Research on the brown tail moth in Harpswell will begin in mid-May.

Eleanor Groden, University of Maine professor of entomology, will conduct a study that will run through February 2019.

At the annual town meeting in March, voters approved spending $9,550 on Groedin’s research in Harpswell. The agreement was approved by selectmen unanimously on Thursday.

“It’s basically authorizing the town to enter into this agreement with the University of Maine. It will be work that is performed under the direction of Dr. Groedin,” said Town Administrator Kristi Eiane. “She is specifically assessing and evaluating brown tail moth populations in Harpswell. And she is looking to try to find biorationale field treatments that would be successful in managing a population.

“We see this as a nontoxic way to try to reduce the population,” she added.

Found throughout Europe, and invasively on the coast of Maine and Cape Cod, the brown tail moth has become a serious pest in the Midcoast. Causing serious damage to local foliage, the hairs on the catepillar in its larval stage are also harmful to humans — resulting in itchiness and breathing issues, among other symptoms.

Getting rid of them has proven difficult. Spraying trees can be effective, but there are environmental concerns with spraying trees over water, a problem common in Harpswell. The study is aimed at finding other ways at controlling and reducing the population.

Groedin’s team is expected to explore three options and the effects of the efforts. There will be a publicly available report and presentation on their findings.

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