Have You Seen These Little Buggers On Your Maine Lawn? Make Sure You Don’t Touch Them!

If you're like many Mainers, you may have noticed an increase in these little black-and-white buggers on your lawn or in the trees around you.

If it seems like they're popping up everywhere, they are. Meet the Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar.

These showy little buddies are big fans of Maine's hardwood trees, often found in or around trees like birch and aspen. According to Maine.gov, they're native to the state and start to make their appearance in the late summer/early fall months of July, August and September. While they're not typically too damaging (although they have been known to strip a tree here or there, as they tend to be very hungry and wander around a lot)  they're nothing to worry about too much.

Read More: What Bugs Make Maine's Spookiest Insect Sounds?

They may look super cute and fuzzy, it's best to admire these caterpillars from afar.

"The caterpillars are showy and active during the day so they seem like just the cutest thing to play with. Unfortunately their hairy bodies can cause a rash in sensitive individuals. Once the caterpillars have finished feeding in the fall they spin fuzzy grey cocoons in the leaf litter. These cocoons can also cause a rash so be cautious when raking leaves in a year where the caterpillars have been abundant."

The folks over at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension say if you do end up crossing paths, and possibly coming into contact with the Hickory Tussock, you may want to watch that rash.

"The prickly hairs are a defense mechanism (the hairs are not poisonous or venomous). It is important to note that children are more susceptible to the rash than are adults, and children are also much more likely to be playing with them and handling these showy critters (natural curiosity/fascination/playing outdoors). The rash from some of the members of this group tends to be short-lived, and clears up on its own after two or three hours. For other species, however, such as with the Hickory Tussock (subfamily Arctiinae) or the dreaded Browntail caterpillars, the rash can be much more severe and long-lasting, and a doctor’s visit might be warranted to speed one’s recovery and ease the symptoms/discomfort."

Once they've fed and made their little winter cocoons, you shouldn't be bothered by them again until they've turned into moths and take to the air in June and July.

Leave them be and you should be alright.