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Abstract Browntail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea (L.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a long-established invasive outbreaking public health and tree pest that once spanned large areas of the northeastern United States and Maritime Canada. Its current range is Maine and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A recent outbreak began in Maine in 2015 and has spread to areas where it has not been seen in over 75 yr. Historically, pest management during the outbreaks occurred at all levels, including state and federal, but current management is largely the responsibility of homeowners and municipalities. To understand Maine residents’ experiences with browntail moth and thoughts on management methods, a survey questionnaire was conducted. More than 10,000 participants were invited through mail and volunteer sampling, with over 3,200 usable responses. The survey also included an experiment that tested whether a list of pros and cons would affect approval of different management methods. Respondents reported seeking out browntail moth information and pesticide guidance from multiple sources including state resources and social media. Analyses found that previous experience with management methods and missing work due to the rash caused by the larvae setae were important factors influencing management approval, whereas providing a list of pros and cons was found to be a conditional predictor. Overall, respondents preferred management methods with minimal nontarget effects and wanted more information about local browntail moth management plans. This is the first published survey conducted during a browntail moth outbreak in Maine and provides important insights that could help guide future browntail moth management, policies, and research.
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Conducting Authentic Moth Research with Students to Encourage Scientific Inquiry
Studying moths is an excellent way to include students in science practices by introducing them to a ubiquitous but under-appreciated animal group that can be found in their local places, including urban, suburban, agricultural, forested, and other habitats. In this paper, we share a simple, low-cost method that can allow individual students or groups to collect moth specimens and begin to ask and answer questions about moth diversity and abundance in their local community.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2100990
- PAR ID:
- 10528034
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Science Scope
- Volume:
- 47
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0887-2376
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 56 to 62
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1080/08872376.2024.2363112
