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UMass Extension Landscape Message November 4, 2011

Winter Moth caterpillar numbers were higher than expected this last spring in much of eastern MA and that suggests that the numbers may be higher still for next spring. However, there was an extended drought period of 4-5 weeks this last summer followed by unprecedented amounts of rainfall starting in late August and going into October. It is not known what these two effects had (if any) on winter moth survivability in the soil as pupae. Adult emergence will start to occur around mid-November and the numbers of adult moths at that time will be a fairly good indicator of caterpillar numbers early next spring. No controls are recommended nor effective against the adult moth stage of this pest.

Fall Cankerworm has been in relatively low numbers for a few years in most of Massachusetts but the adult moths are active at almost the same time as the winter moth and may be confused with that much more damaging pest. In recent years, any dull gray moths seen flying around Thanksgiving time west of Worcester in MA have been Fall Cankerworm or, most likely, Bruce Spanworm. In the eastern part of the state, it has been mostly winter moth.

Note that the moths that will be flying soon are likely to be winter moths in the eastern part of the stare, but Fall Cankerworm or Bruce Spanworm in the west.

Claire