EMPORIUM — The Lyme Timber Company, Generations Forestry, and several public and private landowners joined together in a collaborative effort this spring to mitigate the destruction of the region’s forests caused by the spongy moth population (formerly known as “gypsy” moth). Initial assessments indicate that the spraying program was a success.

Lands that were sprayed appear to have retained much more foliage than areas that were not sprayed.

The effort was coordinated by Generations Forestry, a forest management consulting business based in Kane. The Generations team arranged the spraying contracts and helped notify local hunt lease owners and the public of pending fly overs.

“The moth represents a major threat to the economy and quality of life in this region. Only with a coordinated and science-based program, like we have had this spring, will we be successful in our efforts,” said Ken Kane, president of Generations Forestry.

“We were happy to do our part and we are grateful to Ken Kane and Generations Forestry for taking the lead on organizing the collaboration among large and small landowners. These kinds of collaborations help to ensure that area forests remain productive and growing for the region’s forest products economy and recreational use,” said Jim Hourdequin, CEO of Lyme Timber.

Lymantria dispar (Spongy moth) has been a source of tree mortality in Pennsylvania for decades. The invasive species prefers oak trees, but the moth caterpillars will feed on the leaves of many other tree species, aggressively eating leaves in the early spring.

The degree of destruction varies over time depending on moth populations but has been relatively high over the last several years. In 2022, counts of the moth’s egg masses were significantly elevated. In years when 1,000 egg masses are counted per acre (with about 150 eggs per egg mass), spraying is advised.

Some areas in northern Pennsylvania saw egg mass counts of up to 12,000 per acre. Spraying was also undertaken by public agencies. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry oversaw the spraying of 200 sites totaling 209,838 acres beginning in May 2022, covering 20 counties including 14 forest districts, 10 state parks and sections of the Allegheny National Forest.

The Lyme Timber Company sprayed approximately 22,000 of its 157,000 acres in the region. Spraying also occurred on 18,000 acres of lands managed by Generations Forestry.

According to David Andrus, general manager of Lyme Timber’s Three Rivers Forest Management, “Federal, State and private forest managers across the state work to come up with a program that will protect the trees at highest risk. We discuss what we’ve seen and what we are planning, always looking out for the good of the resource.”

Spraying was conducted by air with fixed wing, single engine planes or with helicopters, flown from St. Mary’s and Bradford airports, as close as safely possible to the treetops. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) allow pilots to stay within the property boundaries.

There are many challenges associated with spraying programs, among them cost and the need to target areas with the most egg masses. Spraying is most effective when it occurs soon after tree leaves emerge but before the caterpillars begin to eat the leaves. Spongy moths molt four times and eat more every day. Early spraying helps to eradicate the moth early in its life cycle.

Lyme owns approximately 160,000 acres of forestland in the North-Central Pennsylvania region. The Company has invested in several local forest products businesses, including Three Rivers Forest Management in Coudersport, Northern Appalachian Log and Forestry in Coudersport, Emporium Hardwoods in Emporium, and Bradford Forest in Bradford. These businesses employ over 240 people in the region and support many additional jobs in logging, trucking and related businesses.