The village of Anvik along the west bank of the Yukon River has an increase in defoliation associated with caterpillar numbers.

The outlook for blueberries in Southcentral Alaska this year is bleak, scientists say. The reason: Two species of moth have damaged berry patches, as well as native deciduous trees, from the southern Kenai Peninsula to Mat-Su.

Caterpillar infestation in Village

Interior Alaska’s hot and dry summer of 2013, coupled with an invasion of insect pests, has taken a steep toll on the region’s birch trees, experts say.

A biologist peers into his collection jar to find an example of the green caterpillars that have been dining on willow bushes, making brown batches on the landscape in and about Nome.

The tent caterpillar may be chewing its way through swathes of forest foliage, but there's no danger of harm to trees, says expert.

Unknown caterpillar observed

9-10-14 Unusual caterpillar - Big Lake, Alaska, USA

In just seven years, as much as one-third of the mountain-birch forest in the North Calotte region was severely defoliated by two moth species. Researchers now have a better understanding of what happened.

Infestation of an unknown species of caterpillar.