The Maine Forest Service, cooperators within and outside the state, and Canadian provinces are working together to monitor and predict the growth of the spruce budworm population and its potential impact on the region’s forests. For several years now in Maine, both pheromone trap and light trap catches have been above numbers expected. In 2019, statewide overall average trap catches increased more than threefold. In addition, light traps operated statewide witnessed a dramatic increase in light trap catches, with 502 adult SBW moths caught at twelve sites, although not the same sites as in 2018; most moths were recovered from just four sites in Aroostook County. The MFS believes many of these moths were migrants from a massive in-flight of moths in late July from the ongoing Quebec outbreak.
For the full MFS report, which includes maps and specific data, click here.