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Among the moth species linked to blue tit success was the winter moth, which emerges early in spring and is known to be a key food source.

Since 2013, the Maine Forest Service has introduced thousands of parasitoid flies to combat winter moth populations in Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Portland, Peaks Island, Harpswell, Kittery, Vinalhaven and Boothbay.

In recent years, Cape Elizabeth’s trees have been among the hardest hit by the moth, losing 300 acres of oak trees to winter moth caterpillars that destroy tree foliage, the Portland Press Herald reported.

The winter moth is originally from Europe.

The fly eggs will then hatch in the gut of winter moth caterpillars and parasitize them.