What's up with the Maple Trees?

[SeanD]

Sorry for the confusion. I'm talking about Gypsy moth caterpillars. Like DaveB said, we got spanked last year. While I am noticing a smaller amount of caterpillars hatching out this spring compared to last, there are more than a typical year - and I'm hearing the munching in the canopy at night. Last year when we finally had a good run of wet weather I could see the caterpillars dying right on the bark. I'm hopeful for more of the same now.

[Louie]

Spread rate map from 2003.
https://www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/spread/

Looks like the latest from Wisconsin.
https://gypsymoth.wi.gov/

[markcasper]

Spread rate map from 2003.
https://www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/spread/

Looks like the latest from Wisconsin.
https://gypsymoth.wi.gov/

Thanks for the map.....I have seen the traps they hang out near my house, in fact, someone has been hanging one up in the ditch adjacent to our farm for the last 10 years or so. Looks like we are a few counties west of any infestation yet.

[Michael Greer]

Here in northern New York we're in the middle of a multi year Forest Tent Caterpillar invasion. "Invasion" is the wrong word, as these critters are always here, but their population goes through huge swings and when it goes up, it goes WAY up and they eat up the forest for a year or two. There is a great article on our Public Radio website by a local forester.
https://blogs.northcountrypublicradi...687.1492819406

[ennismaple]

There are areas near us that are almost completely stripped of all leaves right now. I took a drive through the sugar bush and despite it being sprayed 2 weeks ago there is still a lot of damage. I see now why they say that these caterpillar invasions are good for the forest because there is definitely a lot more sunlight getting to the forest floor that normal.

[Revi]

Maples are in trouble, but then so are a lot of trees. It's hard to find completely healthy maples growing near roads. The salt is hard on them. We planted hybrids and they seem fine. They are called an Acer Freemani cross. Here in Central Maine any sugar maples that are near the roads were planted a long time ago.

[heus]

I too have alot of mature sugars that look really bad in NE Ohio. I think a big seed year combined with below average rainfall has contributed to the leaf drop. I worry that there will be alot of branch dieback.

A year later and yes there has been significant dieback on many of my sugars exposed to the sun. Same thing this year, my sugars that are in direct sunlight have leaves that are just turning brown and falling off, as opposed to going through their usual orange color change. Sugars in the woods seem to be pretty healthy this year, though.

[heus]

Maples are in trouble, but then so are a lot of trees. It's hard to find completely healthy maples growing near roads. The salt is hard on them. We planted hybrids and they seem fine. They are called an Acer Freemani cross. Here in Central Maine any sugar maples that are near the roads were planted a long time ago.

Its pretty much the end for any mature ash trees around me. The Emerald Ash Borer finally got to them.