Brown-tail moth

Euproctis chrysorrhoea
Upperside
Female with tail tuft of red/brown hairs
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Euproctis
Species:
E. chrysorrhoea
Binomial name
Euproctis chrysorrhoea

The brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is native to Europe, neighboring countries in Asia, and the north coast of Africa. Descriptions of outbreaks, i.e., large population increases of several years duration, have been reported as far back as the 1500s.[1] The life cycle of the moth is atypical, in that it spends approximately nine months (August to April) as larvae (caterpillars), leaving about one month each for pupae, imagos and eggs. Larvae (caterpillars) are covered in hairs. Two red spots on the back, toward the tail, distinguish these species from other similarly hairy moth larvae. The winged adults have white wings and a hairy white body with a tuft of brown hair at the tip of the abdomen. Females lay one egg cluster, usually on the underside of a leaf of a host plant. The species is polyphagous, meaning that it feeds on many different species of trees, including pear, apple, maple and oak.

This species was accidentally introduced to the United States in the 1890s.[1] During the early 20th century it was present from eastern Connecticut northward into New Brunswick, Canada, but a subsequent severe population collapse reduced the territory to parts of coastal Maine and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by the late 20th century. One theory for the decline appeared to be parasitism by a fly introduced to combat spongy moths.[2] Starting in 2015 there has been a population spike and territory expansion in coastal Maine.[3] In Europe, there are multiple parasitic and predator species,[4] yet there is still a history of population outbreaks.

Hairs from the caterpillars are toxic for humans,[5] causing a poison ivy-like itchy rash of up to sometimes weeks-long duration due to mechanical and chemical irritation.[6][7] Direct contact with larvae is not necessary, as the hairs are shed and can become windblown.[5] Toxins in the hairs remain potent for up to three years. Outdoor activities such as mowing a lawn or raking leaves in the fall can cause exposure.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Fernald1903 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Elkinton2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Browntail Moth History, Background, Conditions in ME" (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Maine Forest Service. February 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Frago2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference MainePDF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference deJong1976 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference deJong1982 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).