ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – The spongy moth may seem harmless on the outside, but its presence causes destruction across Southwest Virginia and northeastern Tennessee.
They’re an invasive and non-native species that feed on leaves, damaging and killing trees in the George Washington and Jefferson and Cherokee national forests.
The Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) hopes that by using low-flying aircraft to spray a treatment over affected areas, they can “slow the spread” of these fluffy pests.
Eric Pfiefer is a silviculturist working to control the growth and health of Washington and Jefferson National Forests. He says for now, these treatments are preventative and will keep spongy moth levels at bay…