Tussock moths feeding on conifer trees in New Mexico
9/14/2022 4:37:53 PM
CATEGORIES:
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
New Mexico
Bernalillo County, NM
Catron County, NM
Cibola County, NM
Lincoln County, NM
McKinley County, NM
Sandoval County, NM
Socorro County, NM
Torrance County, NM
Start Date: 9/14/2022
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Conifer stands in some central New Mexico forests were losing their needles, due to an insect outbreak. Douglas fir, white fir and even some ponderosa pine trees in the Cibola National Forest were turning brown due to the larvae of the tussock moth feeding on last year’s needles. The worry is that the defoliation weakens the trees and will make them vulnerable to later attacks by bark beetles that may kill the tops of trees or even entire trees.
The Associated Press (New York), Sept. 14, 2022
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