4/15/2010 - From the Maine CDC:

Maine Forest Service personnel have completed the 2010 winter web survey for Browntail Moth. The Browntail Moth population has continued to intensify in certain areas of the state. The areas most affected by this infestation include Bath, West Bath, Topsham, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, with small infestations in Augusta, Freeport, and Falmouth, and an insolated infestation in Cape Porpoise, Kennebunkport.

The hairs of the larvae cause a rash similar to poison ivy and can also cause respiratory distress in sensitive individuals. The hairs persist for a number of years and can continue to cause problems when mowing, raking or other activities stir them up from the ground and brush.

The Browntail Moth makes its webs in the fall in oak, apple, serviceberry and other trees and shrubs. The larvae begin to emerge from the webs in April and feed on the foliage as soon as it appears. Webs can be cut from lower branches but many of the webs are high in mature oaks. Control of these webs is possible only by licensed pesticide applicators using high pressure sprayers. Cutting webs out of trees should be done as soon as possible and chemical control needs to be completed by the end of May in order for it to be effective in reducing the effects of the Browntail Moth larval hairs. There are also special Maine Board of Pesticide Control regulations for spraying chemicals for Browntail Moth near coastal waters.

The following resources are available:

Fact Sheets on Browntail Moths and Information on 2010 affected areas

Information on Pesticide Use (Chapter 29, Section 5)

Charlene Donahue at the Maine Forest Service, charlene.donahue@maine.gov or 287-3244.

A letter from the Maine Forest Service was sent to town officials in the highly affected areas.