Buck Moth Caterpillars in New Orleans: What You Need to Know

In New Orleans, for every parade season, there’s a plague season.

It’s part of the balance.

We celebrate like we do because — whether we realize it or not — we understand that something will come along behind it. Heat. Storms. Termites. Or, this year… caterpillars.

And not just a few.

This spring, it feels like they arrived all at once.

A quick walk down Esplanade

I was walking along Esplanade yesterday, doing that half-aware drift we all fall into this time of year, when it hit me.

They were everywhere.

On the sidewalk. In the trees. Suspended mid-air like they were deciding where to land next.

Without thinking, I let my hair down to cover my neck. Not for style. Not for sun. Just a self-preservation instinct.

And I caught myself thinking:

I don’t need a hat for Jazz Fest just because of the heat. I need a hat because something might fall out of a tree and ruin my day.

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If you’ve been wondering why there are so many caterpillars in New Orleans right now, they’re buck moth caterpillars. They show up every spring, but this year feels heavier due to a combination of reduced fall spraying and ideal weather conditions. They live in oak trees, they fall without warning, and yes — they sting.

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What are buck moth caterpillars?

These are the spiky, black-and-white ones that seem to appear overnight and make you question every oak-lined street you’ve ever loved.

They live in oak trees — especially live oaks — which, in New Orleans, is… most of them. You may spot them on other nearby hardwoods, but oaks are where they concentrate.

They don’t bite. They don’t chase. But brush up against one — or have one fall on you — and you’ll know immediately. The sting is sharp, fast, and memorable.

Not dangerous. But not subtle either. Symptoms usually fade within a few hours to a day.

Maddie’s already been stung twice (that's my 13-year-old mini goldendoodle), and Wren won't leave the porch (our gumbo dog COVID acquisition). A client’s dog got hit during a walkthrough before closing last year.

It’s become a thing.

Why are there so many caterpillars in New Orleans this year?

If it feels like more than usual, you’re right.

For years, there were more coordinated efforts to manage them — including fall spraying programs by New Orleans Parks & Parkways aimed at reducing populations before spring.

That hasn’t happened in the same way recently.

Add in a mild winter and a wet spring, and you get exactly what we’re seeing now: a very good year… if you’re a caterpillar.

A note on spraying (because it’s not that simple)

Spraying does work — when it’s done at the right time (fall, typically November), and when it’s done consistently.

But it doesn’t just affect buck moths.

It affects everything else living in those trees too — butterflies, moths, and the broader pollinator ecosystem that we spend the rest of the year trying to support.

So the pullback you may be noticing isn’t random. It’s a tradeoff.

Less intervention means more caterpillars. More intervention means fewer pollinators.

And like most things here, there isn’t a perfectly clean answer.

How to avoid buck moth caterpillars (and what to do if stung)

You don’t need to panic. You just need to adjust.

This is temporary. It passes every year.

In the meantime, you have options:

• Be aware of where you’re walking (especially under oaks)

• Cover your neck and shoulders and toes!

• Throw on a wide-brim hat (this is its moment)

• Keep an eye on pets, especially curious noses and paws

• Consider using the cover option on strollers and wagons

• Educate kids old enough to understand that some caterpillars have consequences

If you get stung:

• Use tape to remove any spines (this works on pets too)

• Wash the area with warm water

• Treat with baking soda or hydrocortisone

• Give it time

It hurts, but it fades.

The honest answer

You could spray your trees in the fall. You could coordinate with neighbors. You could try to get ahead of next year.

Or…

You could take a trip. Stay inside a little more than usual. Or lean into it and adjust your uniform accordingly.

Personally, I’m dusting off my straw hats or adorable umbrella, rockign long sleeve linen, and being grateful that at least we still haven’t encountered termite season—yet!

Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is the author of Prepped to Sell: What Works Even When the Market Doesn't. She is an award-winning, top-performing real estate broker in New Orleans and the founder and owner of Cool Murphy Real Estate.

You can learn more about her here.

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