The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), Maine Forest Service (MFS), and 211 Maine remind Maine residents and visitors to watch out for browntail moth caterpillars and to take steps to limit potential health risks caused by the caterpillars. The advisory comes on the heels of a bill recently enacted by the Maine Legislature to provide mitigation resources to communities suffering from severe browntail moth infestations.
In their caterpillar stage, browntail moths shed tiny hairs that can cause a skin reaction similar to poison ivy. Most individuals affected by the hairs develop a rash that lasts for a few hours up to several days.
Browntail moth caterpillars are easy to identify. They are dark brown with white stripes along the sides and two red-orange dots on the back. Younger caterpillars lack these white stripes. For more information, answers to frequently-asked questions and tips on how to protect yourself, visit the state’s browntail moth page.
