Winter Moth Pheromone Survey

Winter moth was introduced into North America from Europe. It was first recorded in Nova Scotia in the 1930s and then in the Pacific Northwest (British Columbia, Oregon and Washington) in the 1970’s. Winter moth showed up in eastern Massachusetts in the early 2000’s and has since spread westward in MA, into Rhode Island and now coastal Maine from Kittery to Bar Harbor.

The larvae of winter moth defoliate deciduous trees and shrubs in early spring. Trees heavily defoliated by winter moth for three or more years can exhibit branch dieback and mortality. 

The State of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry will conduct a Winter Moth Pheromone Survey by hanging one multi-pher trap per town in a tree along a coastal transect from Kittery to Tremont (52 towns) and along a transect from Lebanon to Gray (10 towns). Traps will be baited with a lure and contain a no-pest strip. Traps will be set out the first week of December and retrieved the first week of January. 

Learn more about the winter moth online at Invasive Threats to Maine's Forests and Trees.