It’s Going to Be a Bad Year For Browntail Moths in Maine

Maine entomologists are putting out a warning that now is the time to look for and destroy browntail caterpillar nests as they predict this will be the worst season in history for the invasive browntail moth.

According to News Center Maine, this season could be the worst we've seen of browntail moth infestations since the 1920s.

Browntail moth caterpillars have hairs that are toxic for humans and can cause rashes similar to poison ivy and can cause breathing problems in some people. You don't even need to touch a caterpillar to show these symptoms as their hairs can become airborne in the wind.

By the moth stage, trees become in danger as the moths begin feeding on them causing them to be destroyed.

You can take steps to reduce the brown tail moth population right now. If you spot nests in trees, you can remove and destroy them. This video published last year from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry demonstrates what to look for and how to destroy them.