Groden hosts browntail moth workshop in Harpswell, Forecaster reports
The Forecaster reported Eleanor Groden, a professor of entomology at the University of Maine, recently hosted a workshop in Harpswell to discuss browntail moth control. Groden is currently working with the Maine Forest Service to pinpoint the underlying cause of the invasive moth outbreak throughout the state, and develop environmentally friendly treatments, according to the article. Poisonous hairs on browntail caterpillars can cause mild to extreme allergic reactions in humans, ranging from a rash similar to poison ivy to serious respiratory problems in some people. When Groden met with selectmen at the workshop, she focused on the discovery of a fungus that kills browntail caterpillars, the article states. While the fungus could be effective at naturally reducing the caterpillars’ number in areas such as Harpswell, Groden said she doesn’t see much potential for commercial distribution. The Portland Press Herald also published the Forecaster article.