Caterpillars taking over University of Florida campus. Are they dangerous?
Spring has sprung at the University of Florida, bringing with it an unexpected and unwelcome guest for some: a massive surge of furry crawling caterpillars.
These caterpillars have descended upon campus, clinging to buildings, covering tree trunks and even making their way into students' living spaces. Many students are growing increasingly frustrated by their presence.
Andrew Sabadash, a second-year business management student, expressed his frustration after he found a caterpillar in his bedroom.
'I don't like them because they're everywhere and I don't know if they're venomous or not,' Sabadash said.
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The caterpillars, identified as the larvae of the fir tussock moth, white-marked tussock moth and the rare definite tussock moth, are a seasonal phenomenon in North Florida. According to Akito Kawahara, director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at UF, their presence is a natural event that happens each year in March and April.
'These caterpillars are out now because the trees are blooming and the leaves are soft enough for them to eat,' Kawahara explained. 'They're not poisonous like a snake but some people can experience irritation from their hairs. It's best not to touch them.'
That irritation was all too real for Aaron Amster, a political science and history student who had a close encounter while studying outdoors.
'I was reading at Lake Alice and one of the caterpillars crawled up my thigh,' Amster said. 'I got a rash from it. It was a terrifying experience.'
The caterpillars will only be around through the first few weeks of April before they cocoon and transition into moths. Until then, they will continue to seek shelter on trees and buildings.
While these caterpillars do not pose serious health risks, their cocoons — often found stuck to buildings, benches and fences — also contain irritating hairs that can cause an itchy or burning sensation when touched.
According to Kawahara, students hoping for an extermination effort are unlikely to see one, as the caterpillars play a crucial role in the ecosystem. Birds, lizards and parasitic insects rely on them as a food source and their presence is part of the natural balance of Florida's environment.
'They're important for the ecosystem but they are very annoying,' Addison Wooley, a third-year information systems student, said.
Not everyone on campus is against the caterpillars. Petra Kohler, a third-year biology major, welcomes their presence.
'I disagree with most of the students here,' Kohler said. 'I love the caterpillars. I actually think they are kind of cute.'
Beyond the annoyance factor, experts warn that warming temperatures could lead to larger and earlier outbreaks of these caterpillars in the future. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, the eggs hatch as the weather gets warmer and with increasingly mild winters, the larvae may begin appearing earlier each year.
Though they don't typically cause significant damage to trees. However, according to a report in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, there have been instances where outbreaks have led to severe defoliation in parts of North America.
Still, dodging falling caterpillars from oak trees or dealing with unexpected intrusions into dorms will remain a part of the UF student experience for the months of March and April each year, according to Kawahara.
With warming temperatures leading to earlier hatchings, these springtime infestations may become an increasingly common sight on campus. For now, experts at the Florida Museum recommend avoiding outdoor picnics, shaking out clothes before putting them on and simply waiting for the inevitable end of caterpillar season.
'This is just part of the price you pay for living in the warmth of Florida,' Kawahara said. 'It could be a lot worse.'
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Fir tussock moth caterpillars taking over UF campus in Gainesville
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