These 4 stinging caterpillars terrorize New Orleans

The big picture: Four venomous caterpillars are common in New Orleans metro, says Zack Lemann, the curator of animal collections at Audubon Insectarium.

• The caterpillar forms of the buckmoth, puss moth, IO moth and saddleback have venomous spines and hairs that cause pain when touched.
• The puss moth caterpillar, also called an asp, is the most venomous of the bunch.

Between the lines: New Orleans has other stinging caterpillars, but they aren't as common, Lemann says.

Yes, but: The fir or live oak Tussock moth caterpillar isn't venomous, Lemann says, even if it looks spiky.

• It can cause an allergic reaction for some people, though.

State of play: Buckmoth caterpillars are the most common venomous critter this time of year in New Orleans, Lemann said, based on personal observations.

• Buckmoth caterpillars make their homes in live oak trees and are often found on the ground under them.
• They are normally out from March to May and then go below ground in June, he said.

Threat alert: Watch where you sit and wear gloves in the garden, Lemann said.

• "I don't think it's wise to go on a killing spree," he said.
• Here are some tips if you get stung.

Meanwhile, dogs sometimes step on buckmoths and get stung, but it isn't common, Lemann said, based on his surveys of vets in the city.

Zoom in: The key is to learn to identify the caterpillars and then leave them alone, Lemann said.

• "If you look at a puss moth, it looks like a bad mullet," he says.
• The Tussock moth is very ornate, and other caterpillars differ in color.

What's next: Lemann is concerned last year's drought may have hurt or killed some of this generation of moths and butterflies.

• He's in the process of doing field observations, he tells Axios.