Spongy Moth Home

A new common name for Lymantria dispar, spongy moth, replaced the prior name of this insect, gypsy moth, in 2022. This change was necessary because the word "gypsy" is an ethnic slur and the former common name equated people with insects. For more information, visit the Entomological Society of America website.

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Yard Tree Management

Homeowners who want to protect one or a few trees from spongy moth should consult with a certified arborist for more information. Some options include spraying insecticides, scraping egg masses off surfaces or trapping them using sticky barriers.

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Woodlot Management

Woodlot owners should consult with a forester prior to beginning management. Some available options include doing a private aerial spray of the property or using active forest management to decrease defoliation impacts by improving tree health.

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State & Fed. Quarantines

The quarantine covers 53 of Wisconsin's 72 counties primarily in the eastern 2/3 of the state. Under quarantine regulations, wood product and outdoor household items must be inspected or certified before moving them from quarantined to non-quarantined areas.

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The adjacent map shows counties in which aerial sprays of spongy moth are planned for 2024 by state agencies. Treatments by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to slow the spread of spongy moth will take place in counties tinted red. Sprays to prevent tree defoliation on state lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be done at sites in the blue-tinted counties.

Visit DATCP's interactive spray map to see where treatments are planned within each red-tinted county and which products will be used. DATCP conducts aerial sprays to slow the spread of spongy moth in western Wisconsin. Traps are installed prior to the appearance of adult moths to determine locations of small, isolated populations. These populations are then targeted using aerial sprays every spring and summer. To learn more about the program and find treatment updates, visit the DATCP webpage.

The DNR will conduct aerial sprays at Big Foot Beach State Park, Devil's Lake State Park, Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest, Kettle Moraine State Forest, MacKenzie Center State Park and Mirror Lake State Park, in the counties tinted blue. Detailed maps of the suppression spray blocks are available on the DNR site. These treatments are done to suppress outbreaks of spongy moth and prevent defoliation, stress and potential death of trees in campgrounds, picnic areas and other areas used by visitors.

During the spring and summer months, aerial spray information is frequently updated on the toll-free spongy moth information line: 1-800-642-MOTH. Press 1 to listen to a recording about current spongy moth spray plans. You can also subscribe to receive email updates about spray plans or follow DATCP on Facebook or Twitter.

More information about spongy moth management is available in DNR's Spongy Moth Fact Sheet.