When I was working in the barn, I noticed this fellow creeping determinedly across the floor, evidently in a hurry to get to wherever he was heading. I waylaid him in his journey long enough to take this photograph.
It’s a Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae) caterpillar. About an inch and a half long, he looks soft and fuzzy, but these caterpillars are actually bristly. Sensitive persons may have a mild allergic reaction resulting in a rash after handling such caterpillars. As the name suggests, hickory is a favorite foodplant for this species, but they will feed on almost any woody plant as well.
(NOTE: Several readers have left comments about the nasty reactions experienced by children handling these caterpillars. Please see their warnings in the comment section.)
The female moth lays her eggs in large batches, so the tiny caterpillars can initially be found in clusters of a hundred or more. By the time they reach full size, they have left their hatching spot and I only saw this one individual. It will spend the approaching winter as a pupa, wrapped in a loose cocoon spun in leaf litter. When it emerges as a moth next year, it will look like the Hickory Tussock Moth pictured below, photo courtesy of Seabrooke. You can learn more about her new Peterson Field Guide to Moths here. Thanks again, Seab!
I’ve seen many of these moths around the front of my garage, but this is the first caterpiller. Thank you!
Karen, that’s cool that you recognise these moths! Now you can keep an eye out for the matching caterpillars. They’re out there somewhere…
That transformation from caterpillar to butterfly or moth never ceases to amaze me!
just researching these on the Internet….my eight-yr-old daughter’s having an allergic reaction from handling this particular caterpillar yesterday at a zoo….we had no idea it could produce such a severe reaction….she has a burning, itchy urticarial rash spread over her limbs and torso, but mainly her hands and forearms where she handled the caterpillar. i thought i should comment as a warning to others!
Louise, it’s hard to even believe, isn’t it? Who would ever imagine it?
Sally, thanks for sharing your daughter’s experience. Hope she recovered quickly. I’ve never had a reaction myself, but have heard some people do.
DON”T TOUCH THIS CATERPILLAR. Immediately after handling the caterpillar, my 4 yr old son began to cry and itch. He broke out into a rash on his arms and torso. 12 hrs later raised bumps formed and broke as he scratched himself. Went to ER and he is now on steroids. Poison ivy like symptons. Benedryl helped. Bathe your kid right away to wash any reminents of this caterpillar.
Jennifer, thanks for adding your warning. I added a note to the text.
[…] moth caterpillars out and about this season. I had a number of responses to my post about the Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar, including several relating allergic reactions experienced after handling a […]
I grew up handling these caterpillars with no problems. Four years ago, I found one and handed it to my son. He, my daughter and one other kid handled the caterpillar. Only my son had a reaction. I don’t remember what the reaction was but I quickly got on the internet to find out what to do. I ended up using duct tape on all exposed parts of his body to get the caterpillar hairs off of him. The hairs are tough to see so I figured I’d cover all the bases. I remember that the symptoms subsided after I used the duct tape but I don’t remember how long there was evidence of the initial reaction.
They are a very common caterpillar in Ohio, especially around September/early October.
Thanks, KC, for sharing your experience.
I had never seen these caterpillars before this year and they seem to be in abundance in New Brunswick, Canada right now. My son has had a rash now for a coue of days along his neck and torso that I had thought was due to his coming into contact with cats at our local shelter (he’s allergic to cats), however I now believe it’s related to these little buggers.
[…] The Tussock moth label is a misnomer, as these moths are classified with tiger moths. Another tiger moth caterpillar that you are probably familiar with is the Woolly Bear. For more on Woolly Bears, follow this link. A less well known relative, also common at this time of the year is the Hickory Tussock, linked here. […]
Referencing the post just above, I had always heard/read about them as milkweed tigers since the late ’60s. Then in the late ’90s, they somehow became milkweed tussocks. The change makes no sense when they are classified as tiger moths, plus the caterpillar is colored like a tiger.
Referring back to my post from 10/18/11, if you click on my name, you will be taken to a good article on the dangers of the hickory tussock.
I had one on my neck a week ago, I brushed it off and went on with my day. The rash is very itchy, swollen and seems to be still spreading. Any suggestions other than a doctor visit?
KC Clark, thanks for your input!
Liz, I have no suggestions, but hope you are better soon.
i have a hickory tussock cocoon and i dont know when it will hach. It started oct 1st 2012
2 weeks ago my 2 year old daughter handled one of these. The next morning she woke up cover in a rash so severe I rushed her to the dr. They couldn’t pin point what it was tho they did say it was an allergic reaction. We just didn’t know to what. I hadn’t a clue that the caterpillar could’ve been the culprit. Good to know, we have these caterpillars all over our home. We live in a wooded area in Brighton, mi
well I cough one and he/she is in her/his cocoon am I aloud to touch it if it is out of it’s cocoon and now a moth??? Thanks for you help!
The cocoon may cause you problems because the hairs are part of the cocoon. The moth is harmless.
How long does the caterpillar stage last. I have seen so many this year and never before, many neighbours complaining the same. I feel like we are infested. Live in Stratford Ontario.
I don’t know the answer but it is longer than 4 weeks. I worked at a Boy Scout camp this summer for 6 weeks. We had a hickory tree right outside the nature center that had two groups of hickory tigers. Used them as a teaching tool for the entire 6 weeks. When camp was done, the caterpillars still had not reached their final instar and were still living together in groups. The mature caterpillars go their separate ways.
Thanks for your input, KC.
Mary, I think they are caterpillars for 2 to 4 weeks, but I really don’t know for certain. Regardless, you can rest assured that they will be a temporary problem.
I am terrified of caterpillars and this is the first year I’ve had them. I have two large butternut trees right outside my back door and I am rarely outside these days. Though butternut trees are endangered in Ontario, I am tempted to have them cut down to reduce the population of these nasty little creatures.