The Tussock Moth Caterpillar, a hairy, typically white or brightly colored insect, may be seen crawling in your yard or near oak trees.

Though these insects do not sting or bite, their bodies are covered in hair that can irritate skin and even cause a rash when you come in contact with them. These urticating hairs poke into the skin and then break off, this is a defense mechanism that the caterpillar uses to protect itself when you brush up against it, even accidentally.

Parents and guardians should be on the lookout for these caterpillars this time of year, they can be found near trees, especially oaks, as well as on playground equipment that a child may be using. Fortunately these caterpillars will cocoon in just a few weeks from now and will emerge as moths.

In the meantime, here are a few steps you can take in case you or someone you know does come into contact with a tussock moth caterpillar:

• Without using bare hands, gently remove the caterpillar if it is still on you or someone else.
• Don’t rub or scratch the area that they came into contact with. This can cause further irritation.
• You can use tape over the irritated areas, sticky side on the skin, and then gently pull the tape away, pulling the spines or hairs of the caterpillar away as they stick to the tape. Repeat with fresh tape each time as needed to remove as many hairs that you can.
• After removing as many hairs as you can, you can wash the area with soap and water
  to clean it further.
• To help reduce the irritation or stinging you can use an ice pack on the area.
• If a rash persists or gets worse or badly blistered, reach out to a healthcare provider for
  further professional medical assistance.