California Oak Trees Eaten Alive

> "I've lived in Rio del Mar over 30 years, and it's the first time I've seen it this bad," said Mike Luther, a 20-year volunteer with the California Native Plant Society. "I don't think I have a single intact leaf on my oaks."

In Santa Cruz, Calif., the oak moth larvae, which eat the leaves of coast live oak trees and other oaks are having a larger effect on trees this summer than in normal years. They are becoming visible on the trees?EUR??,,????'?????<

Mature larvae are found from May to June, and adults emerge June to July, according to the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Web site. That?EUR??,,????'?????<

Periodic outbreaks occur about every five to 10 years, and in the most extreme cases lead to severe defoliation of some trees, according to the Elkhorn Slough Web site.

Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel