Puss Caterpillar / Asp Control in Boerne, TX
In Boerne, puss caterpillars, the "asps" of Texas, usually turn up as a small teardrop of soft-looking tan, gray or rusty fur on a tree trunk, a fence rail, a patio chair or a swing set beneath an oak, pecan or elm. The first move is to leave it alone and keep children away: those silky hairs hide venomous spines, and even a dead caterpillar or an empty cocoon can sting. If asps keep showing up where your family sits or plays, call or text (210) 281-1064 or book online.
What does an asp look like? #
Texas A&M AgriLife's Insects in the City describes the caterpillar as teardrop-shaped and covered in long, silky hair, like a tuft of cotton or fur, with mature larvae about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long (ENT-3010). Colors range from yellow or gray to reddish brown. The adult is the southern flannel moth.
Host plants named by AgriLife include oak, pecan, elm and hackberry, along with dwarf yaupon, holly, palms and other shrubs. They overwinter as pupae in cocoons stuck to the trunk or branches of the host.
Most stings happen at home #
A Texas Department of State Health Services study of poison-center reports found that 91% of puss caterpillar stings happened at the patient's own home (<a href="https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/efetch.fcgi?db=pubmed&id=29625901&rettype=abstract&retmode=text">DSHS study). That fits a town like Boerne, where 71.8% of homes are single-family detached houses (Census ACS), each with a yard of its own. The places to check are the ones people touch: tree trunks, fence tops, gate latches, porch rails, outdoor furniture and play equipment under or beside host trees.
Parks, trails and shade along Cibolo Creek #
Boerne lists 10 city parks, including City Park and River Road Park on Cibolo Creek, plus the 1.75-mile Cibolo Trail (City of Boerne parks). Wherever children climb, picnic or sit under shade trees, the AgriLife advice is the same: teach them that fuzzy caterpillars look touchable but are not. On playgrounds, AgriLife says that kind of teaching may be the most useful step of all. Avoid sitting directly under host trees when caterpillars are around, since they can drop.
When to watch for them #
AgriLife's Mike Merchant says the moths emerge in late spring or early summer and lay eggs on favored trees, with one or two generations a year and caterpillars more common in fall. The DSHS study of Texas poison-center calls from 2000 to 2016 found stings peaked in July (12%) and in October and November (59%). That fall window is when a quick look at trunks and fences before yard work pays off.
If someone gets stung #
- Shake the caterpillar off right away if you can.
- Press tape on the area and pull it off to lift out broken spines, as AgriLife's Wizzie Brown suggests.
- Apply an ice pack; an oral antihistamine can ease itching and burning.
- Expect intense, throbbing pain that usually fades within about an hour, according to AgriLife, with spots that clear in a day or so.
- See a doctor right away for generalized itching, trouble breathing, or any sting near the eyes. The Poison Center is at 1-800-222-1222.
The DSHS study adds perspective: of 3,484 reported stings, 93% had no or only minor effects.
What we can and can't do #
Spraying trees and shrubs falls under a separate Texas Department of Agriculture license category for ornamental plants and trees, which Pest Trappers does not hold. So we will not spray your oaks or pecans. AgriLife also notes that asps rarely do serious harm to trees, so spraying out of fear is seldom needed. If caterpillars are thick over a play area or patio, a company licensed for tree work is the right call for the foliage.
How Pest Trappers handles puss caterpillars in Boerne #
A technician can inspect around the house, including porch rails, fences, furniture, play sets and the outside walls, point out where asps and cocoons are sitting, explain the options for structures and follow the label for anything applied there. You also get practical advice for the trees themselves. Pricing comes after the inspection, and the office confirms your time. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) is a family-owned company. Read the puss caterpillar guide, or see the Boerne page for other pests.