Fight against gypsy moths proving successful

STURBRIDGE, Mass. — The crawling and chewing gypsy moth caterpillars are coming to a swift end.

“They're everywhere...  it's raining caterpillars,” said Ken Gooch, the State Forest Health Director.

A soil-borne fungus is the main reason the caterpillars are dying off. The spores get onto the insect’s body and eat is from the inside out, said Gooch.

Another contributing factor to the caterpillar die-off is the nuclear polyhedral virus.

>>MORE: Gypsy moths expected to surge this year, 700K acres of deforestation possible

“You generally see that virus when the population becomes really, really heavy,” he said.

On Monday, the state began surveying gypsy moth damage by air, but even from the ground, you can see the damage.

With so many leaves gone, forests in central Massachusetts have the lacy appearance of mid-spring.

>>MORE: Invasive gypsy moths starting to hatch in Massachusetts

The trees won't benefit from the caterpillar die off until next year, but it could be dramatic. In 2008, gypsy moth caterpillars deforested 400,000 acres in Massachusetts. There was a wet spring that year; the following year in 2009, caterpillars only ate through 12,000 acres.

More dead caterpillars now will mean fewer moths to mate later, and therefore fewer eggs.

As for when the state can declare the reign of the gypsy moth caterpillars over for this year, the finish line is in sight.

“By the end of July this will all be done. And if the trees are healthy enough they'll be pushing a new flush of growth out,” said Gooch.

Cox Media Group