Going outside these days for many people is impossible without being reminded of the huge swarms of Brood X cicadas that have recently surfaced from the ground. Others have experienced excruciating encounters with pests like mosquitoes or fire ants with the return of warm weather. However, if you reside in a particular region of the United States, you should get ready for another dangerous insect that is expected to infest some locations in record numbers.
According to recent news reports, the browntail moth is wreaking havoc across Maine. Browntail moths, commonly referred to as browntail caterpillars, are extremely harmful and can cause rashes and even make some people to have trouble breathing. The browntail moth caterpillar is tiny, only about an inch and a half long. They’re identifiable by the white dashes that run down their sides and two red dots on their backs, which are approximately an inch and a half in length.
These spooky creatures were unintentionally introduced from Europe to Massachusetts in 1897 when they soon spread throughout New England. Since then, their population has decreased, and they are now mostly found on the coasts of Maine and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But this year, according to Jim Britt, a representative for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, the furry critters have been discovered in each of the state’s 16 counties. “People are finding them everyplace: on the ground, on the picnic table, on the electrical box, on the corner — you name it,” he said.
“They are heavily present. Folks will see them all over,” he added, “We are in the midst of an outbreak.”
These caterpillars truly have poisonous hairs on their small bodies. According to a warning from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the toxin can remain active on these hairs for up to three years, making them particularly deadly.
A red, bumpy rash resembling poison ivy can be brought on by simply touching the caterpillar’s hair. And to simply touching the caterpillar’s hair, the rash could linger for as long as several weeks, as the department said.
Browntail caterpillar hairs could also cause serious lung problems if inhaled, though. Therefore, if you don’t want to be affected by browntail moths, it’s advisable to stay away from them.
Many people are exposed to the caterpillar’s hairs through their cocoons, which can be found on the outside of structures and cars as well as on outdoor equipment, plant stems, branches, and foliage. The caterpillars’ discarded skin contains poisonous hairs as well.
Britt who recently came within range of them in a Maine park is one of the few people who do not experience symptoms when exposed to these caterpillars. He said, “They were everywhere, and I had absolutely no reaction to them.”
In some areas of the state, the caterpillar outbreaks have become extremely serious. In Waterville, Maine, which is 20 miles north of Augusta, the mayor convened an emergency meeting of the City Council and encouraged them to issue a declaration of a public health emergency for the area.
At the meeting, the mayor, Jay Coelho said, “After a pandemic year, while we are finally able to start getting out and socializing, this is the last thing we want to be dealing with.”
To protect their skin, officials advise anyone conducting yard work, such as raking, to use masks, goggles, and coveralls. They also advise working on rainier days to prevent stirring up the hair. They advise washing off in a cool shower, changing into new clothes, and rinsing picnic tables and outdoor equipment before using them after leaving an area where browntail moths are present.
Watch the video report below for more details:
Sources: AWM, Thewallstreetpost, Iheart
