The Minnesota Departm
Smarty Plants Podcast
Discover Smarty Plants, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's podcast that digs into the fascinating world of invasive species. Join expert guests as they share insights and solutions to protect our environment and agricultural resources. Visit Smarty Plants and start listening today.
Holiday Greenery Invasive Insects
Spongy moths lay their eggs in protected areas on both natural and artificial surfaces. Egg masses are quarter-sized fuzzy, tan colored and contain 500-100 eggs. Spongy moth is a pest with a host range up to 300 plants species. Spongy moth caterpillars defoliate trees and can impact forests and related industries. This species is currently under quarantine in Lake and Cook counties in the state of Minnesota and as well as other states across the Eastern US. They hitchhike on items like:
- Christmas trees
- Nursery stock
- Logs
- Firewood
- Recreation equipment, including campers, and lawn chairs
