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2026 Spongy Moth Outlook for New York State
Summary of the Outbreak that began in 2020---The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a non-native insect from Europe. In New York, spongy moth caterpillars feed on a variety of trees, with oak as their preferred species. Spongy moths have naturalized in our forest communities, which means they are always present in New York in some capacity. In recent years, spongy moth populations have experienced a boom throughout the Northeastern U.S.DEC first observed growing populations in New York State in 2020 where spongy moth caterpillars defoliated 27,157 acres in the Finger Lakes Region.
In 2021, New York experienced a nearly statewide outbreak, resulting in 682,652 acres of defoliation scattered throughout the state’s oak-heavy forests. 2022 saw a decrease in defoliation in many of the areas that spongy moth had defoliated in 2021; however, 62,458 acres of new defoliation were mapped throughout the middle to lower Hudson Valley.
The number of defoliated acres in the Hudson Valley continued to grow in 2023 (188,313 acres) and then peaked in 2024 (618,765 acres). In 2025, spongy moth defoliation in the Hudson Valley saw a sharp decrease, with 66,928 acres of new defoliation.
Typically, trees can recover from a couple years of defoliation during a spongy moth outbreak. After three consecutive years of defoliation, the outbreak can lead to mortality, especially in trees that are stressed from other factors such as poor soils, drought, or those growing on rocky ridges. While the number of defoliated acres were substantially less in 2025, more than 10,000 acres of oak mortality were recorded in the Hudson Valley Region.
MORE AT Spongy Moth - NYSDEC
2026 Spongy Moth Outlook for New York State
Summary of the Outbreak that began in 2020---The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a non-native insect from Europe. In New York, spongy moth caterpillars feed on a variety of trees, with oak as their preferred species. Spongy moths have naturalized in our forest communities, which means they are always present in New York in some capacity. In recent years, spongy moth populations have experienced a boom throughout the Northeastern U.S.DEC first observed growing populations in New York State in 2020 where spongy moth caterpillars defoliated 27,157 acres in the Finger Lakes Region.
In 2021, New York experienced a nearly statewide outbreak, resulting in 682,652 acres of defoliation scattered throughout the state’s oak-heavy forests. 2022 saw a decrease in defoliation in many of the areas that spongy moth had defoliated in 2021; however, 62,458 acres of new defoliation were mapped throughout the middle to lower Hudson Valley.
The number of defoliated acres in the Hudson Valley continued to grow in 2023 (188,313 acres) and then peaked in 2024 (618,765 acres). In 2025, spongy moth defoliation in the Hudson Valley saw a sharp decrease, with 66,928 acres of new defoliation.
Typically, trees can recover from a couple years of defoliation during a spongy moth outbreak. After three consecutive years of defoliation, the outbreak can lead to mortality, especially in trees that are stressed from other factors such as poor soils, drought, or those growing on rocky ridges. While the number of defoliated acres were substantially less in 2025, more than 10,000 acres of oak mortality were recorded in the Hudson Valley Region.
MORE AT Spongy Moth - NYSDEC
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