The 2020 Attack Begins On The Browntail Moth

‘Biblical plague’ expected this summer

- Leslie Landrigan

DEER ISLE—The first work crew of the year began to assault the browntail moth at Bowcat Cove on Saturday, February 22, before the moth could attack them and theirs.

A dozen volunteers clipped the moths’ winter webs off the ends of tree branches while their larvae—small caterpillars—are still inactive. The caterpillars have tiny barbed hairs that contain toxins. The hairs float through the air and can cause a painful skin rash or respiratory problems when they contact with humans.

They also defoliate trees, especially oak, apple, and hawthorn. They like rugosa rose, too, according to the Maine Forest Service.

Larry Moffet, a Deer Isle fisherman, expects the browntail moth infestation to get worse this summer.

“People in this community have no idea we’re about to have a Biblical plague,” said Moffet while getting ready to clip overwintering webs at Bowcat Cove.

Though Moffet hasn’t gotten the rash, he has seen it on his sternmen who do tree work. He doesn’t want it.