Spongy Moth Aerial Treatment Set for Ogle and Surrounding Counties

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service will begin aerial treatments to disrupt spongy moth mating on Thursday, June 26, weather permitting, with additional applications scheduled for Friday, June 27 in northern Illinois. Friday’s treatment will cover Oregon and rural areas of Ogle County, as well as Freeport and rural Stephenson County, and two locations in rural Jo Daviess County. The operation uses low-flying yellow planes to apply Splat-GM Organic, a biodegradable pheromone that prevents male moths from locating females. The spongy moth is an invasive pest that feeds on over 250 types of plants and trees, with a strong preference for oak and willow, posing a threat to forests across the region.