This Maine Caterpillar Will Make You Itch Like it’s Browntail Season

Back in the spring, the conversations about browntail moth caterpillars began.

There were all sorts of predictions about how this season was going to fare, based on conditions over the winter, and that whole zombie virus thing. It seemed like the winter was setting us up for a big-time eradication of BTM caterpillars, but that didn't really come to fruition in the way we'd all hoped. I had the rash like three times this year.

Read More: 5 Ways in Maine You could Get Browntail Rash, and Never Touch One

The last several years have been bad enough, that towns and cities around Maine have been taking active steps to try and mitigate, if not totally eradicate Browntails in our area. So far though, it's been an uphill battle to say the least. It's made especially mean, because we're the only ones that suffer in the US.

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Browntail caterpillars may be gone-ish for the season, but the itch isn't over.

This part of summer, brings some relief from the dreaded BTM's, as the adults are unable to produce hairs that cause the rash. But, there's another little fuzzy jerk that is just starting to come out for the season, and that's the hickory tussock moth caterpillar. These little critters are very familiar to us here in Maine.

I remember seeing these around all through my childhood and being told by anyone that saw me within 100 feet of one, to stay away from them. And you never forget those markings, because I always thought they looked like they could be coming or going because they look kind of the same, front to back.

We're just getting rolling for the year.

Here in Maine, they start to come out in July and stick around until September. At that point, they nestle into their cocoons for the winter, and then pop out in early summer, to begin laying eggs, and making more little caterpillars. Then, of course, the vicious cycle starts all over again.

Actually, it kinda starts sooner than that. With the tussocks, their cocoons also can cause a rash. So you'll want to look out when your raking leaves and such because that's where they live, is in the leaves on the ground. Basically, it's just another case of Mother Nature making sure we never get a break from scratching ourselves.

The rash is very similar to brown tail caterpillar rash.

What's worse, is that it's more susceptible in children because the darn things are so fuzzy and cute. Especially compared to browntail moth caterpillars which are pretty drab and ugly. These little tussocks practically beg to be picked up and cuddled. Just fight the urge, hahaha.

Read More: Maine One of the Only Places Cursed by Browntail Caterpillar Rash

As far as treatment, I'd use the same common sense approach that' you'd take to BTM rash. Use that same remedy. It's a combo of some things you can easily find at the drugstore. But ideally, just stay away from them. They're a lot easier to identify than the BTM caterpillars. But just as bad to run into.

Some things are worth being scared of...