Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
A crucial fungal defense against spongy moths is failing, threatening millions of trees across North America as moth populations surge.
Hotter, drier conditions are weakening the Entomophaga maimaiga fungus, allowing spongy moth outbreaks to spiral out of control.
This fungus has kept moth numbers in check for decades, but now its decline is tipping the balance in favor of widespread forest destruction.
Even slight drops in fungal activity could cause massive moth outbreaks, leading to severe defoliation and forest die-offs.
Credit: Milan Zubrik, Forest Research Institute - Slovakia, Bugwood.org
Introduced in 1869, spongy moths have devastated forests for decades. Without natural control, their impact could worsen dramatically.
Credit: Entomological Society of America
Climate change isn’t just affecting individual species—it’s disrupting entire ecosystems, making forest resilience weaker than ever.
Credit: Entomological Society of America
Researchers confirm that recent moth outbreaks are accelerating, proving that this isn’t a future threat—it’s happening now.
Credit: John H. Ghent, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Scientists are racing to find new fungal strains or natural predators that can survive in hotter, drier conditions to replace the failing fungus.
Representative pic
Forests face an unpredictable future—scientists must shift from single-species studies to understanding species interactions to prevent ecological collapse.