The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will soon begin aerial treatments to control populations of the Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth), an invasive species, in Ohio.

Treatments will be applied in Hardin County as well as in Auglaize, Fairfield, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Logan, Vinton, and Washington counties.

Applications are tentatively scheduled for mid-June, weather permitting. Treatment dates and information can be found on ODA’s Spongy Moth webpage. 

Applications are administered using a low-flying yellow aircraft, approximately 100 feet above the treetops.

In most areas receiving treatments, ODA will use a single application of the product SPLAT GM-O. This product does not kill the moth, but it disrupts the mating process by confusing the male as it searches for a female mate. SPLAT is an organic and biodegradable formula that is completely harmless to both humans and animals. 

A second product, Foray 48B, will be used in some Licking County areas to target the larval stage of the moth. This product is a naturally occurring bacteria found in soil. Spongy moth caterpillars ingest the protein and stop feeding. 

If you are in contact with either product, simply wash the affected area with soap and water. Clothing can be cleaned with hot water and laundry detergent. These products are not harmful to birds, bees, plants, pets, or humans.

When the project begins, daily updates on treatment progress across the state will be available on the website or by calling (614) 728-6400.

Spongy Moths are invasive insects that defoliate over 300 species of trees and shrubs. In its caterpillar stage, the moth feeds on the leaves of trees and shrubs and is especially fond of oak. A healthy tree can usually withstand only two years of defoliation before it is permanently damaged or dies. In Ohio, 51 counties are currently under Spongy Moth quarantine regulations.