#browntail moth

[pennymetal]

Boris the brown-tail moth

Boris the brown-tail moth

Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)

This is Boris the brown-tail moth. Don’t be fooled by his buffoonish appearance – his children by many mothers cause havoc by decimating our hedgerows and trees, destroying our public services and dismantling the social fabric of our country.  Found mainly in the conservative southern England constituencies, the oven-ready eggs, laid in batches, hatch into…

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[wadebae]

Maine & England PSA

This year there is a bad outbreak of browntail moths. They are an invasive species in Maine and also in England. They look like this:

(Adult moth: pure white with a brown abdomen. Caterpillar: brown with light brown hairs covering it and orange and white dots on each segment of the body.)

For those who live in south and east coasts of England and coastal Maine/New England area, please check to see if you are in a highly infested area.

If you see the caterpillars or their nests, STAY AWAY. Their hairs are poisonous and cause rashes like poison ivy. People who are more sensitive can have the rash last for a few weeks. The hairs also shed and can be encountered on any surfaces the caterpillars have been (trees, brush, lawns decks and porches) and can also become airborne and breathed in. Meaning if you are outside a lot, you could easily end up with a rash or respiratory irritation without realizing why. It might be from this little binch right here. If you have asthma, this is an added health risk!

Prevention:

Avoid places that appear to be infested with the caterpillars. Indicators include vacated nests and trees and shrubs with a lot of missing leaves.

Wear a respirator, protective eyewear, and cover exposed areas of skin especially while doing yardwork. This is important on windy days or when performing activities that would stir up hairs such as lawnmowing, raking, or clearing brush.

Wipe or rinse off lawn furniture before sitting in them.

Do yard work on damp days or spray the area you’re working in. Moisture will help keep the hairs from becoming airborne.

Keep car and house windows closed in high-risk areas.

Don’t dry laundry outside through May-July. Hairs can become embedded in clothes and cause reactions when you wear them.

Wash clothes after spending time in an infected area to remove embedded hairs.

Remove nests. This should only be done in winter or early spring, while the larvae are dormant. Many nests are too high for the average person to remove, so check with an arborist to see if they offer nest removal service. 

After Exposure:

Take a cool shower after spending time in an infected area.

Use duct tape to remove any hairs that may have embedded while outside.

Rash symptoms can be treated with over the counter antihistamines, calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, and/or benadryl spray.  There is also prescription available for stronger treatment.

The irritation will go away on its own anywhere from a few hours to a couple weeks. 

If you have a severe reaction or trouble breathing, see a doctor.

(Source) (Source)

As this is an invasive species, please keep this in mind every May-July season moving forward. They may become worse over time and expand to new areas as well. Please signal boost or share directly with your friends who live in affected areas!