Why Are There So Many Buckmoth Caterpillars This Year, & What A Wide Brim Hat Can Do About It

In New Orleans, for every parade season, there’s a plague season. It’s just part of the deal. We celebrate so hard because we know — somewhere deep in our bones — that the universe is going to balance it out.

This spring? The scales tipped toward caterpillars. And not just any caterpillars. Buck moth caterpillars, the little spiky land mines of pain currently raining down from our oak trees like it’s some kind of Southern gothic punishment.

If you’ve lived here a while and thought, “Wait, I don’t remember this many caterpillars before,” you’re not imagining things. It’s worse this year. A lot worse.

Here’s what’s going on, how to avoid them, and why you might want to invest in a hat with a little more shade than style for the next few weeks.

So, why are there so many this year?

It turns out that New Orleans' Department of Parks and Parkways, along with groups like Parkway Partners, used to coordinate spraying programs to keep these caterpillar populations in check. But recently, that work either slowed way down or stopped altogether. As best we can piece together, Parkway Partners, who used to organize a lot of spraying, no longer operates in the same way, and there’s no big city-wide initiative picking up where they left off.

Plus, the weather this year gave these little guys the perfect environment to thrive. Warm winters, wet springs — it’s basically a five-star spa for caterpillars.

What even are buck moth caterpillars?

They’re the larvae of the buck moth, and they are not to be underestimated. They’re about two inches long, dark-bodied, with rows of venomous spines that can sting you — or your pets — just by brushing against your skin.

They're especially fond of oak trees (which explains why walking under live oaks feels like crossing a battlefield right now). You might also find them hanging out on other hardwood trees, but oaks are their five-star resort of choice.

And no, they’re not deadly. But the stings hurt. Bad. My dog Maddie has been stung twice already this season. A client's dog got zapped during a walkthrough before closing. Not life-threatening, but definitely "curl up and whimper" levels of painful.

How to protect yourself (and your four-legged besties)

Honestly, it’s pretty simple: Cover up. Stay alert. Avoid oak-heavy areas when you can.

• Wide-brim hats aren’t just cute — they’re practical. These caterpillars drop from trees without warning. Protect your face and neck.

• Long sleeves and pants help keep them from brushing against your skin.

• Dog booties or paw protection can help keep your pets safe, especially during walks.

If you do get stung, here’s the drill:

• Gently use tape to lift out any spines.

• Wash the area well with soap and water.

• Apply a baking soda paste or hydrocortisone cream for relief.

• If it gets really bad, or if you have an allergic reaction, don’t tough it out — call your doctor or vet.

  
  

Can anything be done to prevent this next year?

Yes — but timing is everything. Spraying treatments to stop buck moth caterpillars have to happen in November. That's when the caterpillars are still tiny and manageable, not yet the armored tanks of pain we’re dealing with now.

Homeowners can hire pest control companies to spray individual oak trees. Or, neighborhoods can band together to organize broader spraying efforts. (Pro tip: If you're part of a neighborhood association, start bringing it up in the fall, not when everyone’s already under attack.)

Bottom line

It’s New Orleans. We’ll always take the good with the weird. And right now, the weird just happens to be falling on our heads — literally.

So grab your hat, watch your step, and remember: just like parade season, plague season passes. (And at least it’s not termites yet.)

---

Voted Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor, Team Cool Murphy is a top-producing, licensed real estate team based in New Orleans, brokered by Cool Murphy, LLC.

Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is an award-winning, top-performing real estate broker in New Orleans and the founder of Cool Murphy Real Estate.

You can learn more about her here.

Contact Her -

email: cool@coolmurphy.com

Facebook: @homeinneworleans

IG: @coolmurphynola

YouTube: @coolmurphynola

phone: 504-321-3194