Property owners are responsible for managing trees (and pests) on their property. There are several pest management options to consider and to control the impacts of Spongy Moth.

- August to April

Scrape egg masses off of trees and place in a bucket or zip lock bag of soapy water for a day or two before disposing of them.

Removing egg masses reduces the number of hatched caterpillars in the Spring. 

If any eggs fall on the ground, be sure to collect these in soapy water as well, as egg masses left on the forest floor or turf, will still hatch in the Spring.

Be sure to wear some hand protection, as the hairs of the Spongy Moth caterpillar have been known to cause mild skin irritation in some individuals.

Watch the City of Markham video below.

— April to June

Wrap your trees with burlap banding to trap Spongy Moth caterpillars. Check the burlap cloth every afternoon to collect caterpillars that may be hiding. Place caterpillars in a bucket soapy water for 48 hours before disposing of them.

Follow this Step By Step Burlap Banding Guide or watch the City of Markham video below.

If trees are severely infested, an insecticide may be a viable option. Contact a professional and licensed tree care company to discuss the best options.

Similar to trapping the caterpillars with burlap, burlap banding can also be used for female moths (which are unable to fly). Wrap burlap lower on the tree trunk to trap the female moth before it crawls up the tree to lay her eggs. Wear gloves and place the moths in a bucket of soapy water for 48 hours before disposing of them.

Leave burlap and twine on the tree until the end of August, then remove. Burlap and twine can be reused next year, or be sure to dispose of these materials in the garbage so it does not become litter.

Water your private and boulevard trees. This will provide the energy for your trees to continue to grow. Many trees will grow new leaves later in the Summer months, even after being defoliated.