Each egg mass laid by a spongy moth carries 300 or more eggs. Caterpillars will emerge in spring. Egg masses can be removed with care during fall and winter months to prevent the emergence of caterpillars. Photo Credit: / Wisconsin DNR

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh;
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging property owners to seek out and dispose of spongy moth egg masses, which were produced by adult moths during the summer.

Each spongy moth egg mass contains hundreds of eggs that will hatch into hungry, leaf-eating caterpillars in the coming spring. Large numbers of these invasive caterpillars can be a tremendous nuisance that may cause tree mortality.

Continue reading “Fall Means Hunting — For Spongy Moth Egg Masses” →

Flail mowers can make work easier and more productive for town crews, but the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources urges workers and managers to save any work that could damage oak trees for fall and winter, when the risk of the fungal disease oak wilt is minimal. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg;
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167

Do you know of a state, county, municipal or private crew that has been itching to do some work involving oak trees? Or are you a landowner itching to do some oak pruning or cutting?

Well, the time has arrived for smart and safe work on oaks.

It’s important for crews and managers to know that any damage done to oak trees from April 1 through at least mid-July — many say into September — could lead to a quick death for that tree. Frequently, one tree’s infection will also lead to eventual mortality for neighboring oaks.

Continue reading “Time Is Right For Oak Tree Work” →

Adult psyllids are quite small and can blend in with their surroundings. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff;
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Have you noticed black ash trees that have tightly curled leaves in scattered clumps, with lots of bare areas on the branches?

The problem might be cottony ash psyllid (Psyllopsis discrepans), a tiny, sap-sucking insect that has been in North America for almost 100 years but was first identified in Wisconsin in 2006. Its presence was reconfirmed in 2023, when it was found in several additional counties around the state. Since then, it has been identified in even more counties.

Continue reading “Cottony Ash Psyllid Challenging Black Ash” →

A map of the current Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) in Wisconsin. / Map Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Erika Segerson-Mueller, DNR Invasive Plant Program Specialist, Oshkosh Service Center;
Erika.SegersonMueller@wisconsin.gov or 715-492-0391

When it comes to fighting invasive plants, Wisconsin’s Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) are often the first line of defense (and offense).

These regional groups provide a localized resource for landowners looking for invasive plant education, identification support and assistance with controlling invasives on their properties.

With 13 CISMAs operating throughout Wisconsin, these groups accomplish a lot each year. CISMA efforts range from fieldwork outings and landowner education workshops to tool-share programs and day-long, control-based field trips.

Continue reading “CISMAs Offer Invasive Plants Events” →