This Incredible Caterpillar Infestation Can Be Seen From Space

This Incredible Caterpillar Infestation Can Be Seen From Space

Hordes of gypsy moth caterpillars are currently ravaging parts of the Northeastern United States. Newly released images from space show the alarming damage being done to New England forests by these leaf-munching insects.

Image: Jesse Allen, using data from the Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE).

Incredible as it may seem, insects and disease damage 45 times more forest area annually than bushfires. A single caterpillar or bug can’t do much damage, but it’s a different story when they number in the millions. Collectively, they’re a true force of nature.

This Incredible Caterpillar Infestation Can Be Seen From Space
The European gypsy moth caterpillar. (Image: NatureFreak07/Flickr)

The European gypsy moth caterpillar. (Image: NatureFreak07/Flickr)

Parts of New England and the mid-Atlantic states are witnessing a population explosion in European gypsy moth caterpillars, an insect that was introduced to the region in the 1860s. Soon after hatching in early summer, these bugs start feasting on the leaves of deciduous trees. Newly released satellite images show the extent of this defoliation in parts of Rhode Island. In the image below, healthy forests appear green, while the leaf-stripped areas feature a grey-brown tint.

This Incredible Caterpillar Infestation Can Be Seen From Space
Left: Parts of New England on May 25, 2016. Right: The same region a month later. (Image: Jesse Allen, using data from the Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE).

Left: Parts of New England on May 25, 2016. Right: The same region a month later. (Image: Jesse Allen, using data from the Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE).

The image below shows a closer view of forests near Barden and Scituate Reservoirs in western Rhode Island on 30 June 2016. The remaining green patches belong to coniferous trees trees, which the caterpillars avoid.

This Incredible Caterpillar Infestation Can Be Seen From Space
Image: Paul Ricard

Image: Paul Ricard

Ecologists partly attribute the infestation to a decline in population of white-footed mice (a key predator of gypsy moths), which has shrunk in recent years owing to poor acorn production by oak trees. But the true culprit driving the caterpillar boom are the drought conditions currently ravaging the region. Dry weather tends to holds back pathogens that normally keep the caterpillars in check.

It looks awful, but the effects of this infestation aren’t terrible — at least not yet. Trees can survive one or two years of defoliation by caterpillars. But should this continue for the next three or more years, that would be a different story.

[NASA Earth Observatory]


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

It’s the most popular NBN speed in Australia for a reason. Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.