Browntail Moth Background TOM SCHMEELK FOREST ENTOMOLOGIST MAINE

Browntail Moth Background TOM SCHMEELK FOREST ENTOMOLOGIST MAINE FOREST SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY

What is Browntail Moth? Invasive, originally from Europe Likely introduced on live plants to Somerville, MA late 1800’s, Established in Maine since 1904 Related to gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)

Hosts Ø Wide range of hosts, oak, birch, apples, pears, crab apples and other hardwoods

No Tents Tent-makers Browntail Moth Look for Eastern Tent Look for Forest Tent Look for Gypsy Moth Look for Overall brown color; White stripe down White or off-white White tufts along center of back footprint-shaped sides; Blue spots like the marks down the Red-orange dots on “eye” in peacock center of the back tail-end feather along each Blue body side of stripe coloration in later instars Prominent knobs with hairs on each side of head capsule. Five pairs of blueand six pairs of red - spots along back (4 th instar and later). Invasive Human & Forest Health Impacts Invasive Forest Health Impacts Quarantined pest DANGER!! Native Mostly aesthetic impacts Native Occasional outbreaks

Browntail Moth - History

Browntail Moth - History Extensive control efforts were made during the early 1900’s: Winter webs clipped and burned by the 10, 000's Spray projects initiated Apple trees cut down A federal quarantine imposed

A huge biological control program was instituted • Parasitoids & predators released • Some generalists previously released for gypsy moth earlier in the 19 th century Meteorus versicolor Photo: Centre for Biodiversity Genomics Compsilura concinnata Photo: Diptera. info

Browntail Moth - History Population collapsed in the 1920 s Possibly due to a combination of weather and a fungus, (Entomophaga aulicae) and fly parasitoids Infected browntail moth caterpillar

Browntail Moth - History Population retreated to: A few islands in Casco Bay, ME, and Cape Cod, MA Occasional outbreaks over next 60+ years Map From P. W. Schaefer, 1974 Ph. D Dissertation Population Ecology of the Browntail Moth (Euproctis Chrysorrhoea L. ) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in North America

Browntail Moth Spread Larvae wander late may to late. June Pupate in sheltered locations (boats, vehicles, trailers, etc) Adults may also be carried by vehicles, weather

Primary Problem: Human nuisance Risk to Human Health: Toxic Hairs on caterpillars & cocoons

Primary Problem: Human nuisance Tiny barbed hairs from caterpillars (0. 15 mm) Inject toxin into skin and lungs Carried in air, settle on grass, leaves, in yards, , under boats, etc. Can become air-borne again Toxin lasts 1 -3 years in environment

Secondary Problem: Tree Damage Caterpillar feeding causes branch dieback (>30% defoliation) Tree mortality (only after multiple years of severe defoliation and/or other stress factors)

Identifying different webs Fall webworm

Identifying different webs Photo: William Hoffard Eastern tent caterpillar

Identifying different webs Browntail moth

Browntail Moth - Life Cycle Spend winter in webs as 2 nd, 3 rd or 4 th instars 25 -400 caterpillars/web

Photo: Kyle Rosenberg

Photo: Kyle Rosenberg

Browntail Moth – Life Cycle Caterpillars emerge in late April and May Feed on foliage until late June Molt three to five times Cast skins have toxic hairs on them Photo: Bath, ME Division of Forestry, Facebook

Browntail Moth - Life Cycle In late June – early July Caterpillars move around looking for a good place to spin a cocoon and pupate They make cocoons in leaves, on branches, on buildings, under eaves and boats Cocoons are full of toxic hairs! Photo: Midcoast Maine Browntail Moth Support Facebook

Browntail Moth - Life Cycle Moths emerge from cocoons in July Attracted to lights (flight activity peaks b/w 10 pm and Midnight, heavily weighted to males)

Browntail Moth Life Cycle In mid-late July eggs are deposited on leaves of host trees 200 -400 eggs Covered hairs from female’s abdomen Prefer non-current-yeardefoliated Eggs hatch in August Photo: Bath, ME Division of Forestry, Facebook

Browntail Moth - Life Cycle Caterpillars skeletonize leaves and tie leaves together and to twig with silk

Survey, Clip and Destroy Webs, Line up Insecticide Treatment BEFORE June, Personal Protection Precautions Winter Webs Feeding Larvae Sept-April Personal Protection Precautions, Limit Outdoor Lights Pupae Insecticide Treatment (Newer Approach) Adults Eggs July-Aug Highest Exposure Risk for Hairs* April-June Photos by MFS except: Adult: Anne Burton, Egg mass: Bath Division of Forestry June-July * Feeding Larvae Aug-Sept Toxin in hairs is extremely stable (3+ yr); exposure most likely in dry conditions. In infested areas use PPE whenever conducting activities that might stir up hairs.

Current situation Ø Browntail moth populations continue to increase and expand inland in Maine affecting more towns Ø It has been found in 12 of Maine’s 16 counties through various surveys Ø Aerial surveys during the fall and spring revealed more than 126, 000 acres of damage continuing a steady increase over the last 3 years

Aerial Survey Data • Blue: Late June/Early July Flights • Red: Late August/Early Sept Flights Year Acres 1994 1279 0 1995 2482 0 1996 3081 0 1997 2151 0 1998 2169 0 1999 2187 0 2000 1537 0 2001 5978 0 2002 4416 0 2003 10730 0 2004 5570 0 2005 410 0 2006 639 0 2007 408 0 2008 643 0 2009 758 0 2010 4700 0 2011 910 0 2012 1142 0 2013 677 0 2014 431 0 2015 90 0 2015. 5 2016 13050 24975 2016. 5 63891 2017 50968 2018 76125 2018. 5 126051

Control: don’t move BTM When traveling late May-July to infested areas: DO NOT PARK under/near infested ornamental/street trees! • New infestations anecdotally tied to locations with high populations (E. g. Eddington, Old Town, Burnham) CHECK that you are not moving larvae, cocoons, moths

Precautions & Personal Protection Summer: June through August – in areas where a BTM population is known/suspected: Avoid exposure to hairs – personal protection is key Avoid places heavily infested by caterpillars Dry laundry inside to avoid having the clothing become impregnated with toxic hairs

Precautions & Personal Protection contd. Year round - in infested areas Use caution cleaning debris left by caterpillars because the toxin is extremely stable and remains a hazard for a number of years Gardening Brush removal, chipping Opening camp or cottages

Browntail Moth - Precautions When doing things that can stir up hairs wear Personal Protective Equipment: Coveralls - tightly closed at neck, wrists and ankles Respirator and goggles Head covering and gloves Pre-contact poison ivy wipes may help (closes pores) Sarah Devlin, Bangor Daily News

Working Outdoors in Known Infested Areas Wet down area with a hose or work on a damp day as moisture helps keep the hairs from becoming airborne there by minimizing contact Use a HEPA vacuum to remove browntail moth caterpillars from buildings, driveways, equipment

Browntail control Ø Cold winter weather does not kill caterpillars Ø Cool wet springs help the fungus and baculovirus spread

Eliminating BTM Webs in Winter webs are pruned Remove, burn or soak in soapy water Risk of contact with hairs is low (use gloves) DESTROY the webs BEFORE mid-April List of arborists willing to do this work available from Maine Forest Service website or by calling (2872431).

Chemical control of larvae Chemical control in the spring – BEFORE the end of May Later spraying does not reduce exposure to hairs Hire a licensed pesticide applicator More effective if control is widespread List of arborists willing to do this work available from Maine Forest Service website, (287 -2431).

Products Allowed in 50 -250’ of Marine Waters/ Definition of Biological Pesticide

Biorational Pesticides Spinosad: Derived from a bacterium that is subjected to a specific fermentation process to develop the active ingredient for spinosad. Affects the insect nervous system and can be effective as a contact spray as well as by ingestion. Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (B. T. K): Product contains a bacterium that is specific to butterfly and moth larvae. It must be ingested to be effective, best w/ early instars Azadirachtin: considered nontoxic to mammals and is not expected to have any adverse effects on nontarget organisms or on the environment. Obtained from the seed kernels of the neem tree. Antifeedant and growth disruptor, synergistic w/ beauveria

Questions? Thomas. Schmeelk@maine. gov (207) 287 -3244