Browntail moth has been part of Maine’s landscape since the early 1900s, and the state has been in an outbreak phase across a broader area since 2015. Southern Maine and the Midcoast have seen some of the worst infestations.
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of oak, apple, cherry, shadbush and other hardwoods, weakening trees year after year. But the bigger problem for most families is the caterpillars’ microscopic hairs. They break off, drift through the air and settle on lawns, decks and cars, causing an itchy, poison ivy-like rash and, for some people, trouble breathing.
The browntail moth year
- October to March: winter websYoung caterpillars shelter in silk-wrapped clusters of leaves at the tips of branches. This is the best time to remove them.
- April to June: feeding seasonCaterpillars emerge, feed heavily on new leaves and shed their toxic hairs.
- July: moths flyAdult moths emerge and lay eggs, starting the cycle again.
How we manage browntail moth
Wear long sleeves, gloves and eye protection when working near infested trees, avoid raking or mowing on dry, windy days during caterpillar season, and never burn or handle webs with bare hands.
Why call a professional?
Many webs sit at the very tops of tall oaks, well out of reach from the ground, and handling caterpillars or webs puts you in direct contact with the hairs. A licensed applicator can treat the trees that matter most safely and at the right point in the life cycle.
