By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is seeking public input on its proposed 2026 aerial treatment plan for spongy moth control. Residents can review treatment maps, spray details, fact sheets, and additional resources at smaerialspray.wi.gov.
“The outbreak-level spongy moth populations observed throughout eastern and central Wisconsin in 2023-2024 have largely subsided,” said Michael Falk, Forest Pest Survey and Control Unit Supervisor at DATCP.
“However, our 2025 trapping and egg mass surveys detected scattered outlier moth populations encroaching into uninfested areas of western Wisconsin. Our 2026 treatment plan is designed to prevent these populations from establishing and causing damage to yard trees and forestlands, as well as our timber, nursery, and tourism industries.”
Aerial treatments are scheduled from May through July 2026. DATCP plans to treat approximately 57,615 acres across 18 sites in eight western Wisconsin counties.
The targeted areas were identified after surveys showed increasing spongy moth activity. This invasive insect feeds on hundreds of tree and shrub species, posing risks to residential landscapes and commercial forests.
Counties included in the treatment plan are Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Grant, Lafayette, Pepin, Trempealeau, and Washburn. An interactive map is available at datcpgis.wi.gov/maps/?viewer=gm.
DATCP staff will also host four open-house public meetings where residents can review maps, ask questions, and learn more about the treatment process.
Photo Credit: wisconsin-doa
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, General