Mech interviewed by BDN about impending browntail moth season
Angela Mech, assistant professor of forest entomology at the University of Maine, spoke to the Bangor Daily News about the fact that this year’s browntail moth conditions will be as bad as last year ― the worst Maine has ever experienced ― unless more rain falls in the next month and a half to help bolster the spread of diseases that kill the caterpillars. “In order for the fungus to kind of have the right conditions for it to impact the browntail moth, it needs to be a little cool and wet. That’s what we haven’t had in some of these previous springs. So every time you see rain in the forecast here this month, be a little excited about the chance,” Mech said.