Lee Townsen, Eastern Tent Caterpillars

Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MRLS) was first observed in Kentucky during a three-week period around May 5, 2001, when about 20% to 30% of Kentucky's pregnant mares suffered abortions. The Bluegrass State had experienced an extraordinarily heavy infestation of eastern tent caterpillars. An epidemiological study showed the fuzzy bugs to be associated with MRLS. When Eastern Tent Caterpillars returned to Kentucky in the spring of 2002 it was immediately acknowledged that equine exposure to caterpillars produced abortions. Dr. Lee Townsend with the University of Kentucky's Department of Entomology joins us on this segment of Food and Farm, brought to you by Feedstuffs Foodlink and Feedstuffs Foodlink - Connecting Farm to Fork