Moth Infestation Challenges Smithfield Residents

Smithfield’s Trees Under Attack—And the Suspect is a Tiny Moth with a Big Appetite.

 

If you’ve been strolling through Smithfield lately, admiring the trees, breathing in the crisp mountain air, and feeling all one with nature… well, hold on to your shade, folks. 

 

We’ve got a tree-chomping invader in our midst, and it’s not cute and fuzzy like you’d hope.

 

The Smithfield City staff just put out an alert after a moth infestation was discovered wreaking havoc at the Birch Creek Golf Course. And no, this isn’t the start of a Pixar movie where the moth turns out to be the misunderstood hero. 

 

This one’s straight-up hungry—and it has a very specific craving: trees.

 

So, what kind of trees are on the menu?

 

Primarily green ash, aspen, and boxelder trees—basically a few of the MVPs of your backyard landscaping. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae start munching away at the leaves like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.

 

And these aren’t just cosmetic nibbles. If left unchecked, the little leaf-munchers can do enough damage to weaken or even kill otherwise healthy trees.

 

How did we get here?

 

City crews noticed the damage at the golf course earlier this month and called in the Utah State University Extension Office to confirm: yep, it’s a moth infestation. And now, they’re asking residents to keep an eye out on their own yards.

 

If you’ve noticed leaves disappearing faster than your kid’s Halloween candy stash, or if your trees are starting to look more like haunted house props than thriving greenery—it might be time to investigate.

 

What can you do?

 

✔️ Check your trees, especially if you’ve got green ash, aspen, or boxelders.
✔️ Look for skeletonized leaves or tiny caterpillar-like larvae on the underside.
✔️ Not sure? Snap a pic and contact the city or your local extension office.
✔️ And for the love of the forest—please don’t plant more of these highly-susceptible trees right now.

The bottom line?

 

Smithfield’s doing its part to fight back, but they need a little help from the rest of us. Consider this your official invitation to join the neighborhood watch—Tree Edition.

 

Because nothing ruins a peaceful summer evening under the trees like realizing your trees are slowly becoming salad.