Fungus takes toll on Maine’s browntail moth populations

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • June 30, 2024

A fungus that kills browntail moth caterpillars appears to have knocked back populations of the perennial pest in portions of Maine this spring, providing a reprieve from the annual suffering caused by the tiny hairs they release into the air. But it’s too early to know whether the fungus will help spur a statewide population collapse of the forest pest or if this is the start of a prolonged break in the yearslong infestation that has spread along the coast and inland.