Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has announced a series of open houses to inform residents about its 2025 Spongy Moth treatment program in northern Illinois. The open houses will explain the spray treatments planned for various counties. The Spongy Moth, previously known as the gypsy moth, is a non-native pest that affects trees and plants by defoliating them, which can lead to tree death.

The open house events are scheduled as follows: April 30 at the Oregon Public Library, May 6 at the Galena Public Library, May 8 at the Freeport Public Library, and May 13 at the Matteson Area Public Library. These sessions will be held from 3 to 5 PM and are open to anyone interested in learning more about the treatment methods.

Infested areas will be treated using a mating disruption technique. Starting in mid to late June, weather permitting, airplanes will use Splat GM-Organic, a pheromone specific to the Spongy Moth, to disrupt breeding. The pheromone distracts male moths, preventing them from finding females.

Residents can attend these open houses to ask questions and obtain more details from IDOA staff. For additional information or inquiries, contact the DeKalb Office at 815.787.5476. Detailed treatment maps are also available online at the Slow the Spread website.

"Contact our DeKalb Office by phone at 815.787.5476 with questions or for more information," IDOA advises. They also stress that "Spongy Moth specialists will be in the field for the spray program as it occurs."