Where are the eggs of the Winter Moth laid, which directly correlates with spring defoliation locations?
Answer
In protected crevices, often on the bark of host trees
The year-over-year presence of the Winter Moth is fundamentally linked to the location of its egg masses, which are laid by the female moths shortly after their late-fall flight. These eggs require protection through the winter dormancy period to survive until spring emergence. Consequently, the female moths seek out and deposit their tiny, dark eggs in protected crevices. These crevices are most frequently found directly on the bark of susceptible host trees, which means that the physical location where spring defoliation will occur can be accurately predicted by mapping these heavily clustered egg sites found during winter bark inspections.
Related Questions
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