Browntail Moth Pest Alert

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Contact: Charlene Donahue, Forest Entomologist
(207) 287-2431 

PEST ALERT

I had a BROWNTAIL caterpillar infestation and now I have cocoons!

What to do: Use caution - cocoons are full of the hairs THAT CAN CAUSE A RASH. Remember that these hairs will persist until next year or longer.

If you want to remove the cocoons (different from the overwintering webs):

  • Wear protective clothing
  • Wet down cocoons before removing them

Pressure wash or scrape cocoons off structures or clip out of favorite plants:

  • Put a drop cloth under area to collect them
  • Let soak overnight in soapy water and compost or dispose in trash

Browntail caterpillars wander and form their cocoons anywhere in the area. Favorite places are:

  • Under the eaves on a building, on the underside of anything
  • In the leaves of any plant


Larvae forming cocoons under eaves
Larvae forming cocoons under eaves

Close up of two cocoons inside webbing – they look similar to spider egg sacs
Close up of two cocoons inside webbing – they look similar to spider egg sacs

Browntail cocoon inside leaves
Browntail cocoon inside leaves

A leaf removed to show the inside of a browntail cocoon – one or many pupae can be inside
A leaf removed to show the inside of a browntail cocoon – one or many pupae can be inside