According to a recent update from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, browntail moth caterpillars are thriving in Brewer.
The report states that, of the surveyed and monitored areas across the state, the invasive browntail moth caterpillars sampled in Brewer are developing faster than caterpillars at other monitoring sites.
According to the state agency, the caterpillars sampled from the Brewer sites are roughly 20 percent larger than the caterpillars at other sites. The accelerated development means that the Brewer area is likely to see mature browntail moths earlier than other locations around the state.
Officials believe that the accelerated growth can be attributed to local climate and weather conditions.
Because the caterpillars are likely to enter the moth stage of their life cycle soon, the toxic hairs that are present during the caterpillar stage will be prevalent in the Brewer area, as the caterpillars molt.
The hairs can become airborne if a live or dead caterpillar is disturbed, or if its molted skin is moved around. Shed hairs can remain toxic for up to three years, the Maine Center of Disease Control and Prevention warns.
The tiny poisonous hairs can cause skin irritation, which is similar to the reaction that poison ivy brings. The skin can become irritated from direct contact with the hairs, from hairs that have been shed on other surfaces or hairs that have become airborne.
According to the Maine DACF, there is still time to help prevent the spread of browntail moth infestations. You can destroy nests that are already present on your property by clipping the affected limb. Once clipped from the tree, webs can be soaked in soapy water overnight or burned to kill the moths.
It is suggested that you make preparations to prevent browntail moth infestations during the winter, before eggs have a chance to hatch and develop.
You can learn more about browntail moths with this primer, or visit the Maine DACF page.
