Shedding light on browntail moths

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

September 27, 2022 Initiative for One Health and the Environment

Written by Rachel Jalbert, OneHealth REU program 2022 participant

Three people dressed in white biohazard suits stand in front of small trees and brush. Two are reaching into the tree and the third person is using a pole saw. — Credit: Sadia CrosbyTree trimming for pupal nest collection.

Bugs…a very controversial organism; most people have very passionate feelings toward them. Typically you either love them or hate them. There are definitely bugs that insect lovers hate though…This summer I have been working in the forest entomology lab with Dr. Angela Mech and her graduate students. The primary species we are studying is browntail moth (BTM). BTM is one of those insects that not even insect fans love. An invasive species is a species that has potential to or has negatively impacted the economy, environment, or public; BTM just happens to check all of those boxes.

Introduced in the 1890’s, they spread across New England but eventually their populations were primarily established in Maine and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The caterpillars are the most detrimental life stage since they feed primarily on hardwoods and have toxic hairs that cause poison-ivy-like rashes. The hairs of the caterpillar can go airborne, meaning that only you do not have to directly interact with the caterpillar to get the rash. These life stages are when the toxic hairs are the most abundant (allowing our lab to have fun with tyvek suits and lots of gloves).

An oak tree missing leaves is silhouetted by sunset. — Credit: Sadia CrosbyPhoto of a northern red oak tree defoliated by browntail moths.

Approximately during early to mid June the caterpillars begin to pupate, meaning they will soon become full fledged moths; moths are the adult stage of the species. Anecdotally I’m sure you’ve seen moths (of any species) attracted to some sort of source of light, this phenomenon is known as positive phototaxis.This is where my research comes into play.

My research is hoping to learn more about BTM’s attraction to light and whether there is a light bulb that they are the least attracted to. The implications of this would allow moth breeding grounds to be less centralized near public spaces or homes. The approach I am taking is making a cardboard contraption to emulate a light choice experiment.

Through conducting research, I’ve learned how to think quickly on my feet as well as unconventional problem solving skills. One of the great things about hands-on learning and research is that there is always something to discover. Since BTM has very little research regarding their behavior in introduced locations, it feels like everyday there is some new information or challenge to overcome.