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plant_it Valparaiso, IN Aug 12, 2020

Any idea what species this cutie is?

(Midwest US)

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Post #10496296
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 13, 2020

It's a caterpillar of the white-marked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma. Some people experience a mild skin rash from touching its hairs.
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Orgyia-leucostigma

Post #10496316
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plant_it Valparaiso, IN Aug 18, 2020

Thank you so much! 🙏

I just read about this fellow. I saw one of the moths on my screen the other day. They have cool antennas. Now I'll be able to ID these guys! Thank you again

Post #10496798
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 18, 2020

I passed through Valparaiso at least a couple of times while I was attending Purdue during the mid-1960s. Doubt I would recognize anything there now!

Post #10496803
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plant_it Valparaiso, IN Aug 18, 2020

Yep its grown like crazy. It's changed so much just the last 10 years since I've been here. New subdivisions going up, forests coming down, strip malls going up. Sad to see the green space disappear since that's why I moved out here. Some communities doing green corridors/wildlife corridors so that makes me happy.

It still has the historic downtown area and it's very nice. Shops, restaurants. Still easy parking and nice to walk around.

Post #10496819
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 18, 2020

"It still has the historic downtown area and it's very nice. Shops, restaurants. Still easy parking and nice to walk around."

That's nice to hear - Even my old stomping grounds around Minot ND have changed greatly over the years - one effect; a lot fewer insects. :-(

Post #10496828
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Dozerstinks2 Lakeland, FL Mar 08, 2022

Those caterpillars have devastated my whole yard. They are EVERYWHERE. They eat everything. They have almost stripped all my oaks. Chewed up leaves on all my plants. Even my car tires are covered. I can stand in the yard and actually hear what sounds like rain, but its all those things up in the trees defecating! I can't reach the tops of the tree canopy to spray. I bought some pellets, put around bottom of plants water in...its supposed to kill them next bite they take after plant absorbs it...if theres any plant left by then. Plus its expensive! I have an acre...cant afford to treat it all. If any of the hairs or cocoon silk gets on me, I break out with tiny red raised bumps.
There's got to be a cheaper solution or preventative???

Post #10532570
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Mar 08, 2022

I suggest that you contact the Polk County office of Florida's Cooperative Extension Service to see if they have any advice specific for your area. See https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk/

Post #10532586
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