Insect & Disease Conditions Update
When moths fly
with snow, let the Maine Forest Service know
AUGUSTA
– If you are seeing moth flights this time of year in Maine, the Maine
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Maine Forest Service
would like to know how many, what size, when and where through a simple online
survey. Public assistance is being sought to help combat the destructive winter
moth (Operophthera brumata) by better understanding the locations and sizes of
the populations in Maine.
“The
total economic impact of Maine’s forest industry is $8 billion with direct and
indirect employment of 38,789 workers,” said Governor Paul R.
LePage. “Fighting invasive insects like the winter moth is important to
help protect that sector of our economy; in this case, hardwood trees and
agricultural crops such as apples and blueberries. Public involvement will help
professionals combat and minimize the destructive potential of this and other
invasive species.”
Commissioner
Walt Whitcomb stressed that the public can help by filling out a simple online
survey set by the Department to report winter moth sightings. “Reports from the
public are critical to getting the bigger picture of this insect’s
distribution,” said Whitcomb. “A healthy forest is key to Maine’s forest
economy. Having citizen involvement in monitoring invasive pests is important
to the future of rural Maine.”
The
survey can be accessed online at: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/wintermothsurvey.
Reports of moth flights can also be made by phone at (207) 287-2431.
Forest
Entomologist Charlene Donahue stressed that December is an important time to
look for the winter moth. “December may seem like an odd time to set up traps
for a defoliating forest pest. However, the moth flies when it is dark—this
time of year many of us are still out and about after dark. Even if we aren’t,
we may cast a glance at our windows and notice if there are several or more
small tan moths trying to get to our indoor lights. Staff has spent part of the
first week of December setting up traps along the coast and inland in southern
Maine. Towns in the study region are cooperating by allowing traps to be hung
on municipal property. Two homeowners in the most heavily infested areas have
volunteered their services to make nightly counts of the moths trapped in their
yards.”
The
winter moth was introduced into North America from Europe in the early part of
the last century. It was first seen in Nova Scotia in the 1930s and then in the
Pacific Northwest (British Columbia, Oregon and Washington) in the 1970’s. The
winter moth showed up in eastern Massachusetts in the early 2000’s and has
since spread westward in MA, Rhode Island and now coastal Maine from Kittery to
Bar Harbor. It was first reported in Maine in significant numbers in December
2011.
The
larvae (caterpillars) of winter moth defoliate deciduous trees and shrubs such
as oaks, maples, apples and blueberries, in early spring. Heavy defoliation for
several consecutive years leads to branch dieback and tree mortality. Winter
moth defoliation has contributed to tens of thousands of acres of oak
mortality in Massachusetts.
Winter
moth defoliation was first recorded in Maine in 2012. 2014 was the third year
that the insect has defoliated significant areas of forest and backyard trees
in Maine. Aerial survey picked up moderate to heavy defoliation in the
Cumberland County towns of Cape Elizabeth, Portland (Peaks Island) and
Harpswell, with just under 1900 acres mapped. On the ground, light to heavy
defoliation could be seen in scattered locations from Kittery to Rockland.
Adults
are active from late November to January whenever the temperature is above
freezing. Males are small, light brown to tan moths. They are attracted to
lights and a chemical is released by the females. Adult females are small and
gray. They have reduced wings and are flightless. Females are most commonly
found crawling at the base of trees.
So
if you see moths flying in December, let the Maine Forest Service know.
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