'Curious' About Pesky Winter Moths

WBZ

WBZ viewers are 'Curious' about those white-winged creatures fluttering around lights at night, especially where there are trees nearby. They are called Winter Moths.

"Their wings are flapping. They're kind of almost in your face," said Alice Abrams, who has an infestation on her property in Lexington. "You feel like you want to rush in the house as quickly as possible and slam the door behind you and kind of flick them off before they come in with you."

Just like their more familiar cousin, the Gypsy Moth, they feed on maple, oak, elm, and fruit trees. But Winter Moths have a different life cycle.

Instead of flying around in warm weather, you see them in December and January. They are now laying eggs that will hatch in April, leaving tiny green caterpillars that feed on trees.

"An unhealthy tree can die pretty quickly," says Arborist Mark Bezreh. "In high numbers, it's a major problem."

Unlike the Asian Longhorn Beetle invading Worcester, there is a remedy for the Winter Moth. Arborists can apply a nontoxic spray derived from natural bacteria to kill the pest.

It can only be used on the caterpillars though, so you have to wait until spring.

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