For the past few weeks, mosquitos have not been the only insects students have had to worry about. This time of year it seems hard to walk through the Quad without squishing a caterpillar.
“Caterpillars are taking over,” said Blythe Turner, an English sophomore. “They creep me out and they’re everywhere — on my carport, on handrails, on the walls — they just came out of nowhere.”
Dale Pollet, entomology professor, said the caterpillars students have described seeing lately are the White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar and the Buck Moth Caterpillar.
Pollet said these caterpillars usually stick around for four to six weeks before entering cocoons to pupate.
The White-marked Tussock may appear in different areas from year to year and population cycles, explained Pollet.
The White-marked Tussock moth caterpillar is light in color, appears fuzzy and has a reddish head. They may be seen in areas which contain oak and wax myrtle trees, Pollet said.
The White-marked Tussock does not sting, but may cause allergy-like symptoms, Pollet said.
“The White-marked Tussock is relatively harmless to humans.” Pollet said. “Although, when a dense population is present, the caterpillars’ hairs tend to break and fill the air, causing eye, nose or throat irritation.”
However, according to Pollet, the Buck Moth caterpillars sting, and individuals should steer clear of these pests.
The Buck Moth caterpillars are the black-spiked caterpillars which may be found on oak trees. Like the White-marked Tussock, the Buck Moth caterpillars turn into moths, not butterflies.
If stung, Pollet said the individual should immediately apply ammonia, clorox, toothpaste, meat tenderizer, baking soda, or tobacco juice to counter-act the amino acid venom.
While some University students may be indifferent to the number of caterpillars, it evoked a different emotion from Ryan Gainey, a construction management sophomore.
“Initially, the caterpillars really didn’t bother me that much, just one here or there,” Gainey said. “But, when three fell on me when I was walking from my car to my apartment, I squealed like a little girl — I’ll admit it.”
Pollet said that each caterpillar population varies from year to year.
Pollet explained that while some years these caterpillars will exist in very large numbers, the population may be minimal the following year.
“The populations are cyclic and go from high to low populations over a period of five to seven years,” Pollet said.
Pollet said while one part of the state may experience pockets of infestation, other areas may be spared of the dense populations.
During peak years, when masses of caterpillars are present, potential problems may arise, Pollet said.
“The caterpillars can strip healthy trees completely of their foliage,” Pollet said. “They can be destructive when found in large numbers.”
While the caterpillars may be appearing in droves right now, Pollet said both the White-marked Tussock and the Buck caterpillars will soon be retreating into cocoons to pupate.
According to the Webster’s Dictionary Web site, pupation occurs between the larva and adult stages.
The White-marked Tussocks produce dark gray moths which appear shortly after pupating, while the Buck Moth caterpillars turn into black and white moths in the fall.
Living with these crawling creatures may be impossible for some people.
People can exterminate these pests several ways. The old-fashioned way is always one option. This involves simply a shoe and a stomp.
The alternative is the use of pesticides. Pollet said people may purchase pyrethroids, manufactured chemicals used to kill insects, from local garden centers and will kill the caterpillars before they can become a problem.
Pollet suggested adding a little soap to the spray to get better contact with the caterpillars.