Evil Buck Moth Caterpillars Stalk New Orleans

Newcomers beware. Stinging buck moth caterpillars are a Crescent City springtime hazard. The evil-looking worms munch our beloved oak trees like they’re an all-you-can-eat salad bar. And if you accidentally step on one barefooted, it feels like that time you stepped on a hot sparkler wire on the 4th of July. Watch as the Audubon Insectarium bug guru Zack Lemann describes the treacherous creatures as he blithely handles a crawly cluster, as NOLA.com videographer Doug MacCash (me) clowns for the camera. For more cutting up with Lemann, search for the story “Do those homemade fly frighteners really work?” and for more buck moth wisdom go to http://www.nola.com/living/index.ssf/2017/03/buck_moth_caterpillar_new_orle.html