MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will be setting approximately 6,700 traps for the detection of spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) in 2026. The traps will be placed in 36 counties in western and central Wisconsin from mid-May through early July. Trap locations are determined according to a grid- and data-based system. Most traps will be set along public roadside rights-of-way, but some may need to be set on private property when there is evidence of a new spongy moth population nearby. DATCP requests that all traps remain undisturbed once they are in place.
“Traps are used both to monitor known spongy moth populations and to identify new populations in previously uninfested areas,” says Amanda Miller, DATCP Spongy Moth Trapping Coordinator. “Even though spongy moth populations drastically decreased across the state again last season, there are still new outlier populations developing in western Wisconsin. Data collected from traps this season will be crucial in the program’s effort to pinpoint these new populations and limit their spread before infestations become large enough to cause damage to trees.”
Spongy moth traps are small green boxes stapled to or hung on trees. The trap emits the scent of flightless female spongy moths to attract and catch adult male spongy moths. The lure scent is undetectable to other insects, animals, and humans. Although these traps catch adult male spongy moths, the primary purpose is to gather data to inform future control efforts and does not have direct, meaningful impacts on the population of this invasive species.
Trapping staff will monitor select traps in mid-summer and remove all traps beginning in late August through the end of September. DATCP trapping staff are easily identifiable, wearing high-visibility vests and carrying identification. Each trap is labeled with a phone number and QR code that property owners can utilize if they have questions, want to report a damaged trap, or would like to request the trap be removed from their property.
For more information on spongy moth trapping, visit the DATCP Spongy Moth Traps and Egg Mass Surveys webpage, call the hotline at (800) 642-6684, or email spongymoth@wisconsin.gov.
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