The spongy moth — formerly known as the gypsy moth — is a destructive invasive insect that threatens forest health across the United States. It feeds on more than 300 species of trees and shrubs, including alder, cottonwood, willow and oak. While the moth has not become established in Oregon, early detection and prevention are critical to protecting the state’s forests and communities.
Through training, outreach and collaboration with state agencies, OSU Extension supports early detection, rapid response and public engagement in protecting Oregon’s forests from invasive species.
In June 2020, the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Insect Pest Prevention and Management program needed to deploy 9,000 spongy moth traps by late July. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, they were unable to hire a seasonal crew. The agency turned to the Oregon State University Extension Service for support.
OSU Extension’s Forestry and Natural Resources Program mobilized faculty and trained volunteers from the Extension Master Woodland Manager, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener programs. More than 60 volunteers placed sticky green monitoring traps in trees across six counties in Western Oregon: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Jackson, Curry and Josephine. Following strict COVID-19 safety protocols, the teams deployed and collected 340 traps. Only two moths were detected — in Columbia and Multnomah counties — allowing the state to act quickly and prevent further spread.
This work built on past Extension-led outreach and education efforts. In 2016, following the detection of spongy moths in Portland, OSU’s Oregon Forest Pest Detector (OFPD) program organized community workshops, developed online training modules, and produced videos to help the public understand the threat. Over 50 workshop participants surveyed their neighborhoods and submitted 40 reports. While no egg masses were found, the effort increased public awareness and trust in state-led eradication efforts, which successfully prevented establishment of the pest.
Together, these efforts show how OSU Extension connects science with community action. Through training, outreach and collaboration with state agencies, Extension supports early detection, rapid response and public engagement in protecting Oregon’s forests from invasive species.
