Satellite-derived maps of defoliation caused by European spongy moths – a devastating U.S. forest pest that consumes the leaves of a wide variety of trees – offer a promising solution for tracking where and when to spray and for identifying large scale trends and conditions that lead to pest outbreaks, according to a new study. Satellite-derived maps of defoliation caused by European spongy moths – a devastating U.S. forest pest that consumes the leaves of a wide variety of trees – offer a promising solution for tracking where and when to spray and for identifying large scale trends and conditions that lead to pest outbreaks, according to a new study. The paper describes a new algorithm that robustly quantifies European spongy moth defoliation using high-resolution satellite imagery of forest canopies. The study’s authors created a defoliation index based on time series of satellite images, which provides insight into whether the greenery has changed over short periods. Read More: Cornell University