State monitoring spongy moths in Wood, Clark counties

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will be setting approximately 8,000 traps for spongy moth this year.

The traps will be placed in 36 counties, including Wood and Clark counties, now through early July. Most traps will be set along public roadside rights-of-way, but some will require placement on private property in areas where new infestations are suspected. DATCP requests that all traps remain undisturbed once they are in place.

“Traps are used both to monitor known spongy moth populations and to identify new populations in previously uninfested areas,” said Amanda Miller, DATCP’s spongy moth trapping coordinator. “Even though spongy moth populations drastically decreased last season, the total male moth catch still set a record as the second highest in recent program history.”

The data collected from traps this season will help pinpoint new populations and hopefully limit the moth’s spread before they can damage trees, she said.

Spongy moth traps are small green boxes stapled or tied to trees. The trap emits the scent of flightless female spongy moths to attract and catch adult male spongy moths.

Trapping staff will monitor traps until male moths stop flying – usually around Labor Day – at which time the traps will be removed. DATCP trapping staff wear fluorescent vests and carry identification. Traps are labeled with a phone number and QR code, and property owners can use that if they have questions, want to report a damaged trap or would like to request the trap be removed.