Zombie Browntail Moth Caterpillars Are Mainers Best Friends

A fungus killed many browntail moths in 2024, which is great news for your itchiness in 2025.

The Portland Press Herald spoke with Angela Mech a University of Maine assistant professor of forest entomology who studies the browntail moth. She said,

I am cautiously optimistic about a less itchy summer.

READ MORE: Beware of The Gigantic Dobsonflies in Maine

Wait, there's a zombie browntail moth? And that's a good thing?

In 2023 Maine had a super rainy wet spring. That helped a fungus grow that attacks the browntail moth caterpillars. That fungus infected the caterpillars and turned them into 'zombie caterpillars' in 2023, which reduced the entire population in 2024. Caterpillars infected with the fungus in the fall become carriers, and it “zombifies” them. The 'crawling dead' (get it?) carry the fungus to winter nests that are being built, and the new population could be infected.

What happens when Mainers have contact with the browntail moth?

Having had the rash, I know all too well what happens when you come in contact with browntail moths. The microscopic hairs of the browntail moth caterpillars cause a red, itchy rash that can last for weeks. It can also cause respiratory problems for some people with chronic diseases like asthma. That rash is hard to shake and it's no fun.

The browntail moth goes through big spikes in population then big crashes. We just ended a boom cycle which means 2025 could be a bust for the itchy little moth. I couldn't be happier.