State urges February removal of browntail moth winter webs; warns of persistent rash and short spring treatment window

Britney Shepac (Maine Forest Service) told webinar participants that browntail moth caterpillars cause both severe defoliation on some trees and a persistent, sometimes years‑lasting toxic rash in people because the caterpillar hairs are barbed and hollow.

"Their hairs are barbed and have a toxin inside, so you can get a rash from shed skins and hairs that remain in the environment," Britney said, stressing that homeowners should remove winter webs during February while the caterpillars are still dormant.

She walked through safe removal and disposal methods: clip webs with a pole pruner, collect them into a five‑gallon bucket of soapy water (leave for several days) or burn them; for tall trees, hire licensed arborists or drone operators who comply with FAA rules. If webs are simply dropped to the ground, she warned, caterpillars will re‑colonize the tree.

Britney discussed treatment timing: any pesticide application intended to reduce caterpillar populations must take effect before the end of May; spring injections or foliar sprays should start by mid‑April to mid‑May for best effect. She recommended prioritizing high‑traffic trees (walkways, municipal buildings, play areas) due to treatment costs and water‑proximity restrictions on many foliar products.

For summer behavior, she advised residents to turn off outdoor lights in July or switch to yellow‑hue bulbs to reduce attraction of adult moths; she discouraged use of bug zappers because they can attract more moths to a property.

Her presentation included links to Maine.gov resources and a note that February is Brown Tail Moth Awareness Month in Maine.