These caterpillars are poisoning people in Maine, causing painful rashes

Asha C. Gilbert, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Another insect is wreaking havoc in Maine in the midst of the cicada's invasion – a poisonous caterpillar.

The browntail moth caterpillar has been seen in multiple counties in Maine and is an invasive species found only there and in Cape Cod. The hairs of the moth contain poison and can cause a reaction similar to that of poison ivy, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“People are finding them everyplace: on the ground, on the picnic table, on the electrical box, on the corner – you name it," Jim Britt, spokesman for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, told The New York Times.

The caterpillars are 1½ inches long, are dark brown with white stripes and have two orange dots on their backs.

The caterpillar's hairs can go airborne. When they contact a person’s skin, they can cause a rash that lasts several hours, or for those with sensitive skin, the rash can last several weeks.

If the hairs are inhaled, respiratory distress can be serious, state health officials said.

Could bugs be delicious? These 5 restaurants will make daring foodies crawl with excitement

Fact check: Brood X cicadas are infected with a sexually transmitted fungus

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention declared the critter a public health nuisance, and the city of Bangor said in a Facebook post that it was formulating a plan to address the infestations popping up around the city and other locations.

Amanda Umble told Bangor Daily News she didn’t recall coming into contact with one when she broke out in a rash on her forearm.

“It feels like you have bugs in your bed,” Umble said. “It feels like things are on me the whole night biting me.”

Umble told the newspaper she tried Benadryl cream, then tried Cortisone 10, which worked better to clear her rash up after about a week. There are no specific treatments for the rash, but experts say a cool bath with baking soda, hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion can help.

State officials said this year's invasion may have worsened because of a warmer spring.

Several municipalities have advised residents to wear goggles, take cool showers and dry laundry inside until after summer.

Maine isn't the only state seeing an increase in caterpillars this season. Vermont is experiencing its worst outbreak of leaf-munching gypsy moth caterpillars since 1991, according to state foresters.

Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Browntail moth caterpillar is invading Maine and poisoning people

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Spectacular moment lightning strike showers sparks from roof

    Security camera footage captured the incredible moment lightning struck the roof of a house in Zunyi, China, in mid-April. The spectacular moment saw sparks shower down from the roof after a deafening crack. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

  • Finding resilience in the market: Stocks in Translation

    Inflation is on the top of everyone's minds as expenses continue to pile up and cause volatility throughout the market. Oil (BZ=F, CL=F) remains in flux as geopolitical tensions endure while the flow of goods through that region are also in trouble. While issues persist, parts of the market continue to thrive on the heels of a big week of earnings and economic data. Yahoo Finance Markets Reporter Jared Blikre is joined by NewEdge Wealth Senior Portfolio Manager Ben Emons for the latest episode of Stocks in Translation to discuss where to find resilience in the market, give incredible insight into potential moves from the Federal Reserve, the energy sector, and more.  For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here  This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • FTC to Decide Whether Noncompete Agreements Should Be Banned

    After receiving over 26,000 public comments about the issue, the Federal Trade Commission is set to deliver its verdict on April 30, NPR reports.

  • Kering Forecasts 40-45% Drop in H1 Operating Profit as Gucci Sales Tumble

    The French luxury group said overall revenues fell 11 percent in the first quarter.

  • Shannen Doherty and Tori Spelling Recall the Man Who Tore Their Friendship Apart

    mikel roberts/Sygma via Getty ImagesShannen Doherty and Tori Spelling dug into the past on the latest episode of Doherty’s podcast Let’s Be Clear, as they tried to pinpoint “the pivotal moment” that changed between them in the 2000s, because, as Doherty said, “one minute we were friends and then one minute we weren't.”The former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-stars and close friends had a falling out while filming the series. And Doherty told Spelling on the podcast this week that the way she saw it, S

  • Aboriginal spears taken by Captain Cook in 1770 are returned to Australia's Indigenous people

    LONDON (AP) — Four Aboriginal spears that were taken to England by Captain James Cook more than 250 years ago were returned Tuesday to Australia's Indigenous community at a ceremony in Cambridge University. The artifacts were all that remain of some 40 spears that Cook and botanist Joseph Banks took in April 1770, at the time of the first contact between Cook's crew and the Indigenous people of Kamay, or Botany Bay. The spears were presented to Trinity College, Cambridge by John Montagu, the 4th

  • Spain approves plan to compensate victims of Catholic Church sex abuse. Church will be asked to pay

    Spain on Tuesday approved a plan aimed at making reparation and economic compensation for victims of sex abuses committed by people connected to the Catholic Church. It also announced the future celebration of a public act of recognition for those affected and their families. The Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, said the plan was based on recommendations in a report by Spain's Ombudsman last year. From that report he said it was concluded that some 440,000 adults may have suffered sex abuse in Spain by people linked to the church and that roughly half of those cases were committed by clergy.

  • US economy growing despite manufacturing 'wobble': Economist

    S&P Global's US Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) has come below estimates for April, reading 49.9 against an expected 52.0. This indicates that US manufacturing activity is slowing. S&P Global Market Intelligence Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson joins Yahoo Finance Anchors Seana Smith and Madison Mills to dive deeper into this data and what it is signaling about economic pullbacks and recession fears related to the Federal Reserve's interest rate holdouts. "The economy is still growing in April. So the start of the second quarter, you're seeing a growth expansion persist. We had a reading in the first quarter, an average reading consistent with 2% growth, slipping a little bit below that now," Williamson says. "The economy is still expanding, but a little bit of a wobble perhaps in April. It's going to be interesting to watch this and see how that persists." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • The world's largest 3D printer is at a university in Maine. It just unveiled an even bigger one

    The world’s largest 3D printer has created a house that can cut construction time and labor. The machine revealed Tuesday at the University of Maine is four times larger than the first one — commissioned less than five years ago — and capable of printing ever mightier objects. There could be even larger printers after the University of Maine breaks ground this summer on a new building, a spokesperson said.

  • UnitedHealth says wide swath of patient files may have been taken in Change cyberattack

    UnitedHealth says files with personal information that could cover a “substantial portion of people in America” may have been taken in the cyberattack earlier this year on its Change Healthcare business. The company said Monday after markets closed that it sees no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack. But it may take several months of analysis before UnitedHealth can identify and notify people who were affected. UnitedHealth did say that some screen s

  • New Nissan Murano, Armada, and new Rogue trim will continue brand's rebound

    Nissan dealer meetings preview a new Murano, a new Armada, and Rogue Rock Creek Edition trim due this year that will continue Nissan's rebound.

  • David Moyes, West Ham and a unique brand of pragmatism

    In today’s Football Daily: West Ham, Cole Palmer FC and more

  • Sprite Is Dropping an All-New, Super 'Chill' Flavor for the Summer

    It's a whole new way to keep cool this summer.

  • Zendaya just donned a tennis ball-green plunge neck suit and obviously pulled it off

    Zendaya just wore a tennis ball green-hued vintage suit and its surprisingly chic. See photos

  • Trump trial attorney frustrated over gag order argument

    Todd Blanche said his client had a right to defend himself from 'political attacks' as the judge demanded examples.

  • Disorder breaks out at St George’s Day event in Whitehall

    Mounted officers on horses had to intervene after a group broke through a police cordon before the event.

  • ‘NCIS’ Star Wilmer Valderrama Speaks Out After the Show Makes a Major Announcement

    CBS announced that 'NCIS' got renewed for season 22 and will air during the 2024-2025 TV broadcast season on the network.

  • The 10 most flattering flowy dresses on sale at Nordstrom Rack — starting at just $30

    These throw-on-and-go styles deserve a spot in your warm-weather closet.

  • Houston Texans make NFL history with extensive uniform additions

    The Houston Texans unveiled a bold shift in their look on Tuesday with new uniforms, with their alternate and Color Rush looks getting big changes.

  • King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales

    The King has recognised the public service of his family in a new list of honours, including creating a new role for the Princess of Wales. King Charles has thanked his daughter-in-law, in a way that only royals can, by making her the Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour. Royal watchers will see it as a significant move by the King as it's the first time a member of the Royal Family has ever been appointed to the Companions of Honour.