Entomologists of Connecticut: Is This a Spongy Moth Caterpillar Nest?

Look up Connecticut, while most of you have been worried about the primary invasive species we're supposed to kill on site - the Spotted lanternfly, I think I found an old enemy, known as a voracious defoliator, in Brookfield this morning.

Entomologists of Connecticut, take a peek at the photo above, I believe that this is I've found the first Spongy Moth nest I've seen in anywhere in Connecticut in over two years. The Spongy moth is the insect we formerly knew as the Gypsy Moth, and if left on their own, pose a threat to our beautiful trees. Spongy moth caterpillars are insatiable eaters, and I remember huge outbreaks across Connecticut during the 1970's and 80's. Litchfield County was the scene of the last spongy moth outbreak in 2021, and since, I've heard and seen nothing

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This morning on the way in, I noticed what looked like a discarded plastic shopping bag in the crown of a tree right out in front of the radio station on Federal Road in Brookfield. As I got closer, I realized that this was no plastic bag, it was a silky web that my grandpa would have instantly poured gasoline on and lit up with a cigarette.

Connecticut does have a weapon against spongy moths, besides my late grandfather's gasoline and lit Camel, it's a fungus that needs rain to be activated, according to ct.gov. Let's hope that the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby continue to make their way up the Eastern seaboard and give us a good soaking this weekend.