The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and USDA Forest Service propose to cooperate in the aerial application of the spongy moth mating disruption pheromone in the counties listed below, and additionally cooperate in the aerial application of NPV, a pesticide specific to Spongy Moth, in one other locality listed. The mating disruption applications are to be conducted using fixed-wing aircraft from daybreak until evening in late May or early June.

The timing of the mating disruption treatments is scheduled to coincide with the emergence of the adult spongy moth in late May to late June. Weather conditions during spring and early summer will determine the rate at which spongy moth develops and is therefore a major factor in determining the treatment dates. The timing of the NPV treatment is scheduled to coincide with the emergence of the caterpillars of spongy moth in late March or early April. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, the specific treatment dates cannot be determined until just prior to spongy moth emergence.

VDACS will monitor spongy moth development in 2026 and provide updates to the schedule below. Please check this webpage periodically to obtain future treatment dates for your county or call 804.371.2175 for a pre-recorded message with daily treatment schedules.

• 2026 Virginia Treatment Site Map (pdf)

Tentative Treatment schedule: