Rain has bug benefit

The rain caused problems, but also helped clear up one of the problems that area has. Many of the wooded areas have been hard hit by the Gypsy moth caterpillars which defoliated many trees. Heavy rainfall has caused a significant amount of the caterpillars to be knocked from the trees and drowned. Since the caterpillars are close to the time they begin to pupate and become moths the rain helped prevent this from happening. The moths then lay egg masses which hatch the following year beginning the cycle all over.