The browntail moth has infested Sagadahoc County and the surrounding area for years, killing trees and causing irritating rashes on residents. The insects cause significant defoliation in trees, which can eventually kill them outright. In their caterpillar stage, the insects are covered with hundreds of tiny toxic hairs that can cause a poison ivy-like rash when it comes in contact with skin, or cause respiratory issues if inhaled.

According to Bath City Arborist Kyle Rosenberg, while Bath residents in the north end of the city are seeing some relief from browntail moths, south end residents are experiencing even more than last year.

He explained that a fungus likely killed off a significant amount of the population in the north end of the city above the viaduct.

“What we had in Bath was the north end of the city has traditionally had the highest density of browntail — it collapsed last spring, so it wasn’t very bad up there this year,” said Rosenberg. “But the southern part of the city (which had a less dense) has blown up and caught many people off guard.”

The population was less dense south of the Route 1 viaduct, which meant that the fungus could spread as quickly and kill off the insects.

“As a result, they could build into what we have this year (in the south end),” said Rosenberg.

According to Rosenberg, the browntail moth caused 51,000 acres of damage statewide in 2017. In 2018, he said the city found 400 acres of damage.

There is no miracle cure for browntail moths. While some have experimented with introducing fungus to kill off the insects, the primary way to reduce the population is to cut out the nests in the winter and burn them, spraying pesticides, or injecting chemicals into trees that ward off the insects.

The city has budgeted about $4,000 for injections for 2018.

nstrout@timesrecord.com

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