PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 28, 2025
The browntail moth population collapse that began in 2024 is continuing this year, which means a less itchy spring for Maine residents. Browntail moth caterpillars shed microscopic hairs that drift through the air and can provoke an allergic reaction when they come into contact with human skin, often resulting in red, itchy rashes that can last for several weeks. The hairs can also cause respiratory problems for people with chronic conditions, like asthma. The caterpillar hairs have been most plentiful, and most annoying, between mid-May and the end of June. But this year, a combination of factors is providing relief from the usual itchy conditions in much of the state.