All aerial treatments completed for spongy moth

All aerial treatments conducted by Indiana DNR divisions of Forestry and Entomology & Plant Pathology to slow the spread of spongy moth were completed Friday, June 19. 

Spongy moth is one of North America's most devastating invasive forest pests and has caused thousands of acres of defoliation across the eastern United States.
 
Treatments for this destructive pest were conducted in Huntington County.

The treatments done most recently used a mating-disruption process that consists of using a product called SPLAT SM-Organic, a product made with food-grade materials. The droplets have pheromone that disrupts the insect's mating cycle. 

SPLAT SM-Organic is a biodegradable, food grade material infused with the female moths’ pheromone to attract and confuse the male moths so that mating does not take place. This material does not affect people, animals, plants, or any insects other than spongy moth.
 
During the treatment period, updates are posted on X (formerly Twitter) @INdnrinvasive. DNR also issues status updates via news release. 

To keep up to date on future treatments or to view maps of all treatment locations, or for more information, see on.IN.gov/spongymoth.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.