Moths take flight after causing extensive defoliation across Southeast Alaska

USFS press release regarding the current blackheaded budworm outbreak in Southeast Alaska: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r10/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1057047

JUNEAU, Alaska – Aug. 29, 2022 - Residents and visitors may notice a lot of small brownish-gray moths fluttering around. Western blackheaded budworms are transforming from voracious caterpillars into moths and are emerging throughout the area. These caterpillars, which were abundant in July and August, are responsible for causing the needles on hemlock and spruce trees to turn reddish-brown.

Not to worry - while heavy concentrations of feeding activity from western blackheaded budworm caterpillars can lead to the loss of trees, most will recover. The forest may look different following an event of this size, but these defoliator outbreaks have happened before, and the forests will benefit in the long-term through sunlight breaks in the canopy and fertilization from droppings and half-eaten needles. Additionally, the caterpillars are a food source for hungry birds and fish.

The current outbreak began in 2020 in the central Tongass area and then expanded across southeast Alaska, reaching as far north as Haines and as far south as Ketchikan in 2022. Western blackheaded budworm outbreaks typically last 2-3 years before ending naturally.

Forest visitors can upload photos, video, or information related to sightings of the insect or its damage to iNaturalist.com, which will automatically be included in the Alaska Forest Health Observations Project, a citizen science project in iNaturalist. More information on the project can be found here.

The last time a major western blackheaded budworm outbreak in the southeast took place was from 1992 to 1995.

For more information visit the Forest Health website. Alaska’s National Forests – where nature, people, and tradition come together.

Publicado el agosto 31, 2022 09:31 TARDE por awenninger awenninger

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