Insects called fall cankerworms are stripping the leaves from many local trees.
An outbreak of the insects is affecting areas including Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Powhatan and Amelia counties.
"Hardest hit are areas around Route 60 between Powhatan and Midlothian that have experienced defoliation so intense that many trees have been stripped of all their leaves," the state Department of Forestry said in a statement.
"Areas around Interstates 95 and 295 in Henrico and Hanover counties have also reported significant damage."
Fall cankerworms are native insects that usually go unnoticed. During large outbreaks, however, cankerworms can eat so many leaves that trees become bare.
The cankerworms pose no health threat to people, the forestry department said.
"As for the trees, even those that are completely defoliated usually recover by leafing out again," said Chris Asaro, forest health specialist for the forestry department.
"Since fall cankerworm is an early spring defoliator, trees that are otherwise healthy will have time to refoliate and green up again by mid-summer."
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement