Moth outbreak leaves Siberian forests dead and fuels uncontrollable wildfires

In a catastrophic turn of events, a diminutive moth has decimated vast stretches of Siberian forest, transforming them into a fire hazard of monumental proportions. The Siberian silk moth's caterpillar stage ravages tree needles, resulting in widespread die-offs over several years. Major outbreaks have persisted over the decades, decimating millions of hectares, and now this ecological calamity aligns with an urgent wildfire emergency that has meteorological implications.

By TOI SCIENCE DESK