ST. GEORGE — The St. George and South Thomaston Conservation Commissions are co-sponsoring a talk on two destructive insects that are making their way into area towns and down the St. George Peninsula. The speaker will be Rebecca Jacobs, Program Manager at the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District.

The event will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m., in the Tenants Harbor Town Office.

The Browntail Moth is best known for its caterpillar, whose toxic hairs cause painful itching much like poison ivy. Feeding by BTM caterpillars can cause reduced growth and branch dieback on oaks and other trees and shrubs.

“BTM nests have been spotted in our region and are spreading,” said a news release. “The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is just beginning to show up in our area.”

This insect attacks primarily Hemlock trees, killing them over several years of infestation.

The talk will address how to spot BTM nests and HWA masses in the winter and how best to deal with them.

“This is one way we can slow the spread,” said the release.

The state is also asking citizens to help by reporting any new sightings of these two insects.

For further information or to participate by Zoom, please email stgcc@stgeorgemaine.com with "Invasive Pests" in the subject line.