Forget ‘murder hornets,’ Maine officials warn itch-inducing caterpillars are coming back

TIMES RECORD • May 7, 2020

While other parts of the country gear up for an invasion of “murder hornets,” state officials are asking Mainers to stay wary of a more familiar foe: the browntail moth caterpillar. As temperatures start to rise, more Mainers are turning to outdoor recreation and yard maintenance. At the same time, the caterpillars are starting to emerge from their webs in trees.