Howdy bug lovers! Today the Arthro-Pod gang is going back in history to discuss the spongy moth after its introduction by Trouvelot. We will start our journey at the nascent site of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1891 when specimens of the spongy moth were delivered to some entomologists working there. After that, it is off to the races with political intrigue, bureaucratic frustrations, a variety of economic entomology pioneers, and unfortunately no eradication of this important invasive species. Tune in to find out more about what happened and what failed as well as for discussion on if the early eradication campaigns were worth it.
Show notes
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b60f63199fa14805a8b9f7c82447a25b#ref-n-esdBTD
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Forest-Protection/The-Spongy-Moth-A-Brief-History
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/19541
Much of the research for today's episode comes from a book by Robert Spear, "The Great Gypsy Moth War"
Questions? Comments?
