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California Oak Moth
Every
decade or so, maybe in some places, more frequently, the California oak
moth, Phryganidia californica populations
explode and defoliate large areas of coast live oak. In 2007, parts of
Monterey, Carmel and Del Rey Oaks supported an outbreak. This continued
in 2008 and extended in patches inland to Carmel Valley Village. This
is a natural part of the life cycle of the coast live oaks. As this tree
does not make new leaves every year, it can look decimated. And until
some fungus or predator or a freeze kills the larvae, it can continue.
Oak moths are generally active from May to November. A warm, wet spring
that fosters fungal growth can decimate the moths. But a dry spring,
like that of 2008, is good news for oak moths. Don't confuse the oak
moth with Sudden Oak Death (SOD).
SOD is killing many oaks; the leaves die on the tree and can hang
on the dead trees for a while- brown, crispy but mostly free of obvious
insect herbivory. For more information on Suden Oak Death, click here.
Oak moth larvae are about 1 inch long and about 1/8 of an inch wide. They have a dark green body with lacey yellow lines on the back. Their heads are reddish or brown balls. As they eat the oak leaves, the indigestible material is passed as small pellets called "frass"- it can carpet the ground under an oak. Generally, they larvae eat the green parts of the leaf, leaving the spine or midvein of the leaf on the tree. Pupae are white or yellow with black markings and are found hanging from bark, leaves, and branches. Adults are small, relatively nondescript grey-white moths.