Let's Talk Gardening! Tussock Moth Caterpillars. Season 2 Ep.3

Tussock Moth Caterpillars (TMC) can be an annoyance to northcentral Florida residents in March through early April. In this episode, Dr. Samuel provides a description of the species that occur in Florida including their life cycle and how to manage.
For additional information on TMC visit:
entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/U...
Florida Poison Control Center Tampa
www.poisoncentertampa.org/poi...
Take the survey to provide feedback on this episode and topics you'd like to see in future episodes.
ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV...

Very informative. I started to see them everywhere (even inside my car) and I was freaking out.

[@marlinmonk8615]

thank you my lover.

[@kevinbland]

Love the Jamaican accent, Ms. Samuels! Very informative video as they are everywhere in our yard and do tend to sting. Ocala seems to be the epicenter.

[@marcusmccoy5413]

Thank here in Houston tx one of those just fell on me at the bus stop.on my neck i flicked it off but it rolled onto my bare neck. Your information with the baking soda and water ill see if it does work i need it.

[@buckyb7658]

Thank you your video is very informative. Being new to Tx I have never seen them before and wasn’t sure if they were friends or foes. I stepped on one with my sandals but your method of dropping them in soap water is probably better if they are sticking to my roof. R there any benefits to them?

[@nikosuave4779]

Here in sarasota they seem to be much more plentiful than normal this year

[@vishnugeetha8428]

Iam Indian and I have never seen these until 2-3 days before. My sandalwood tree is infested with them.Iam creeped out rightnow.

[@deannalove9073]

How long is their season?

[@letstalkgardeningbyufifas]

Deanna, just a few weeks. The caterpillars are pretty much all gone now.

[@googleuser4191]

There common in fallbrook and California

[@letstalkgardeningbyufifas]

okay

[@ericrobinson5278]

What do you do when one was found on your skin and you threw it off you?

[@juangrandefranco1297]

Man im looking for the same info. One these mf was on my neck. I felt something moving on my neck and human instinct told me to search for it with my hands and squish! Now im freaked out 🥲

[@ericrobinson5278]

@@juangrandefranco1297 you may have an allergic reaction but itllfade away in 3days

[@erikawhipple]

👹🐛 these things HURT! The pain did not go away until I tweezed all the hairs out of my skin. It was super painful. IMO the best thing to help with the pain and draw out hairs is HYLANDS PRID SALVE. It’s for pain relief and irritant drawing salve. ORANGE box.

[@akumaar]

How do I get rid of them ?

[@letstalkgardeningbyufifas]

Ashwin,
Control is difficult at this late stage. They are now forming cocoons, so remove the cocoons from around the house or whatever structure they are on, bag and dispose. Be sure to wear long sleeves while doing so.

[@cooperette1]

bro i caught one and they are so rare

[@perfectshark2302]

I have some and I don't live in Florida

[@letstalkgardeningbyufifas]

Various subspecies of tussock moths are widely distributed across North America.

[@FlvffyDashhh]

@@letstalkgardeningbyufifas what if i live in Europe?

[@googleuser4191]

Why is there a PERIOD AD

[@letstalkgardeningbyufifas]

Unfortunately, University of Florida do not have control on what ads are run with the videos.

[@perfectshark2302]

Those things on there backs look like eggs 😫🤮

[@letstalkgardeningbyufifas]

They are actually tufts of hair. Check out this link to see what the various stages of the insect looks like. entnemdept.ufl.edu/foltz/eny3541/tussock/orgyia.htm