North Carolina Department of Agriculture Plans To Treat Spongy Moth Infestation In Seven North Carolina Counties
This week, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that it identified infestations of spongy moth in seven counties across North Carolina and anticipates treating in 2026. Residents within the impacted areas were notified by mail in February about these infestations as well as proposed treatments. The department will hold information sessions in March to collect public comments for consideration and activities will start as early as April and will continue through June.
“We have a total of nine blocks involving 28,766 acres to manage,” said Emma Schoeppner, NCDAD&CS Spongy Moth program manager. “Haywood and Stokes counties each have two blocks that will receive two treatment types. We plan to start Btk treatment during April in Currituck, Stokes, Haywood and Watauga counties. WE will then start mating disruption treatment of Haywood, Stokes, Rowan, Warren and Franklin counties in early June, adding or subtracting a few days to cover possible weather delays.”
Here are the seven counties with spongy moth infestations:
Haywood County -Two blocks, 13,891 acres total. 2,656 male moths trapped in 2024; following treatment in 2025, the trapping count dropped to 637 male moths.
Watauga County -A 2,450-acre block. 64 male moths trapped in 2025 indicating a reproducing population.
Stokes County -Two blocks, 2,806 acres total. 2,373 male moths trapped in one block in 2025, 20 male moths trapped in the second block.
Rowan County -A 1,404-acre block. 53 male moths trapped in 2025 indicating a reproducing population.
Warren County -A 1,069-acre block. 30 male moths trapped in 2025 indicating a reproducing population.
Franklin County -A 1,119-acre block. 64 male moths trapped in 2025 indicating a reproducing population.
Currituck County -a 1,506-acre block. 437 male moths trapped in 2024. Treatment did not happen in 2025 and trapping captured 850 male moths that year.
For the most heavily infested areas, low altitude helicopters will disburse Bacillus thuringiensis kurstakii (Btk), a naturally occurring bacteria used to control high populations of spongy moth caterpillars. For areas with smaller infestations, mating disruption will be conducted by low-altitude fixed-wing aircraft dispersing SPLAT Gypsy Moth-Organic infused with the naturally occurring spongy moth pheromone. The pheromone will only affect the spongy moth species and Btk applications will be precisely timed to avoid non-target caterpillar species. These management tactics will not harm humans, plants or pets.
Spongy moths feed on the leaves of more than 300 difference species of trees and shrubs, predominantly oaks and hardwoods. When an area becomes heavily invested, trees may be completed stripped of foliage, leaving yard trees and entire forest more susceptible to attacks form other pests and sever weather disruption. Severe infestation often leads to tree death. Spongy moth caterpillars can also pose public health concerns for people with respiratory programs.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture has been working to treat infestations since 1970 in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Click here to learn more about the program.
