Centralmaine.com shares Extension notice about browntail moth caterpillars

Centralmaine.com shared an earlier notice from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension warning about browntail moth caterpillars in the article “Dry weather a boon for pest browntail moth caterpillars in central Maine.” The June 19 notice from UMaine Extension highlighted reports from the Maine Forest Service stating that the “caterpillars have begun to pupate at all monitoring sites from north of Belfast south to Portland and west to Turner.” According to the Extension’s notice, “the silky cocoons surrounding the pupae contain the last cast skin of the caterpillar and are full of toxic hairs. Many people become exposed to the hairs through encounters with the cocoons as they can pupate on buildings and vehicles/trailers as well as host tree foliage.”