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Schools are critical spaces to recognize and respond to browntail moth (BTM) infestations to avoid impacts to students and staff. While long-lasting tree defoliation and branch dieback are concerns, impacts to the health of students and staff are the most pressing concerns around schools. The microscopic, toxic hairs of BTM can cause trouble breathing and skin irritation similar to poison ivy lasting from a few hours up to several weeks. Some people say they experience itching with fewer than ten webs per tree or shrub; others say they have no symptoms from heavier infestations around their yards. In 2022, Maine Forest Service (MFS) surveys uncovered populations of this insect in every Maine county except Aroostook, where it was likely present but not captured in the surveys. The 2023 winter web survey is still underway, check back later this spring to see that data.
In areas where BTM is not managed, exposures to the toxic hairs peak from late-May through July but are possible throughout the year. You can take actions right now, from February to the end of March, to reduce impacts at the end of the school year along with any summer use of the school grounds. There is only a short window of time to complete these actions. Please consider speaking with your facilities manager, custodians, and staff now to create an action plan. Follow the Four Rs (Recognize, Remove, Recruit, and Reach Out) below to create this plan.
Specific Requirements for School Properties
Reminder: Taking action and keeping records of pest prevention and management activities on school properties is the responsibility of your school Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator. Be sure to report and coordinate all pest sightings and pest management activities, including browntail moth winter web sightings and removal, with your IPM Coordinator. Record-keeping forms and other resources can be found at www.maine.gov/schoolipm, and Hillary Peterson, the IPM Entomologist with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry can be reached at hillary.peterson@maine.gov.
Learn how to tell if the trees around your school have BTM. The winter webs of BTM can look like single leaves hanging onto twigs or fist-sized clumps of leaves tied together tightly with silk. Additional resources to support recognition are found on our website. Do this as soon as possible.
Webs can look like fist-sized clumps of leaves tied together tightly with silk, or like single leaves hanging onto twigs.
Use hand snips, loppers or extendable pole pruners to remove webs within reach from the ground and away from hazards such as powerlines. Protect your eyes and skin from hairs that might be present from past caterpillar activity. After removal, destroy webs by burning or soaking in soapy water for several days, then dispose of the soaked webs in the trash. Do this before April!
Use hand snips or extendable pole pruners to remove webs within reach from the ground and away from hazards such as powerlines.
Recruit professional help to treat webs out of reach or near hazards on the property you own or manage. Licensed professional arborists can remove browntail webs in larger trees and shrubs in the winter. Some companies with FAA certified remote pilots offer web-clipping services using drones. Finally, in trees where physical control is not practical, Licensed Pesticide Applicators may be able to use insecticides during the growing season to manage browntail moth. Do this as soon as you know you will need the help.
In large, heavily infested trees like these oaks removal of webs may not be practical because of time and cost involved in this approach. In trees like this that are a concern from the standpoint of human health or nuisance, licensed pesticide applicators may be able to use insecticides to help reduce impacts from browntail moth.
If there are places near the school where you cannot manage populations, plan for how the school community will respond to their presence. Depending on the size of the population and locations, steps you might consider include:
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Excluding activity near infested trees
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Changing maintenance schedules (such as mowing)
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Rerouting student access to schools.
Plans will vary depending on your situation and may need to be evaluated on an ongoing basis.
We encourage you to reach out to your communities to provide information on this caterpillar, help them save their skins and their summers! Also, please reach out to us if you need additional advice.
foresthealth@maine.gov: information on biology and management of browntail moth
SchoolIPM@maine.gov: information on integrated pest management on school grounds
2023 Events:
We're pleased to share information about these other community events on browntail moth! Please note that the DACF does not sponsor or endorse the following events.
February 11, 2023, 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Woodlawn Museum (19 Black House Dr, Ellsworth, Maine)
The Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District is hosting a workshop about identifying browntail moth, and how to remove their winter webs using a pole lopper. This is an outdoor event, please dress in warm layers appropriate to the weather that day. The workshop will begin near the carriage barn (green and white building across from the construction). Registration is not required.
Join local educators to learn about the best way to mitigate browntail moth in your landscape at this "Love Your Landscape, Browntail Moth Mitigation and Education Event" held at RSU 26 in Orono. Meet at the apple trees behind the Orono Middle School, across from the tennis court. Please park in the lot behind the Orono Middle School/Orono High School. Bring gloves, eye protection, loppers, pole pruners, buckets and dress for the weather and snow/ice conditions. Review safety information on web clipping under “Management” at the Browntail Moth FAQ page. This will be an outdoor, hands-on event.
Hosted by Megan Schneider, Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens, Masiello Group, in collaboration with Maine Forest Service, Town of Orono, Orono Tree Board, and RSU 26.
February 18, 2023, 10:30 to 12:00 PM
Cost: Free
Location: 527 Center Minot Hill Rd, Minot, Maine
Join the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and University of Maine Cooperative Extension for a hands-on workshop to learn how to recognize and remove browntail moth winter webs. This is an outdoor event; please dress in warm layers appropriate to the weather that day. Bring your own pruning equipment and work gloves if you can. Pole saws, hand saws, and loppers will also be available for participants to try. More information and to register for the event can be found on their Events page. Registration is requested, but not required.
February 2023
Cost: Free
Location: Your neighborhood!
Host a neighborhood clipping event during Browntail Awareness Month! It's a great way to stay in touch with your community during the winter season, and it's an even better way to reduce browntail populations to protect you, your family, and your neighbors. Share your event on the featured post on Maine Bug Watch.
For more information:
Contact 211 Maine for answers to BTM FAQs:
- Call 211 or 1-877-463-6207
- Text your ZIP code to 898-211
Or visit the MFS website. While you are there, sign up for the BTM News Bulletin.
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