Stunted Leaves / Defoliation In Rutland County

[Justin Turco]

I’m seeing quite a few maple trees that look as though the leaves have been eaten this year. Almost completely defoliated.

Would anybody know definitively what’s going on here?

Seems too early for caterpillars.

Thrips?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrips_(genus)

[wobbletop]

Gypsy (LDD) moth caterpillars are all out in southern ontario.

[Pdiamond]

Be patient they will lay eggs. They go through two periods each year where you will not get any eggs and then again in winter they will slow down.

[DrTimPerkins]

Could be several things, but quite possibly Gypsy moth as has been suggested. Forest Tent Caterpillar has kind of died down after several years of high numbers recently. Unfortunately the dry weather we've had for a few years, along with the dry spring, allow the populations to rise. This is not because of any effect on the caterpillar itself, but more from the fact that one of the major controls on these insects is fungi. Dry conditions = less fungi = less infected/sick caterpillars = less dead caterpillars = more live caterpillars = more defoliation.

You might check https://fpr.vermont.gov/forest/forest-health/current-forest-health-issues-and-updates#Monthly%20Insect%20and%20Disease%20Observa tions for periodic updates, although often these are a little behind since it takes a while to make and compile observations and then produce the report. Or contact your local county forester https://fpr.vermont.gov/forest/list-vermont-county-foresters to see if they can come out and diagnose the problem.