Caterpillar Outbreak Worsens In Massachusetts, Destroys More Than 100,000 Acres Of Land

First Posted: Jul 07, 2016 05:36 AM EDT

Massachusetts is currently facing probably one of the worst caterpillar outbreak as millions of the insect have destroyed more than 100,000 acres of land between Quabbin Reservoir and Cape Cod.

This is not the first time that caterpillars have invaded Massachusetts. Back in 1981, the hungry small creatures spoiled over 200,000 acres of land in the state by consuming almost all of the leaves of oak, cherry, and pine trees, reported Science Alert.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the tiny cute looking caterpillars, which are gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar) in their larval stage, have been defoliating around 1 million acres of forest in the eastern US region every year since 1980.

The damage by the insects usually begins around May. It is during this time of the year that the newly hatched larvae use strands of silk to glide when there are wind gusts, and spreads all over the forests eating leaves for a couple of months until they enter the pupa stage.

People of Massachusetts compare the situation with a horror movie scene with caterpillars raining down from trees everywhere. "It's just a gypsy moth bloodbath out here," campsite owner Jeff Kilburn told The Boston Globe. "It's like all-out war. They have invaded and they are taking no prisoners."

It is reported that the gypsy moths were not originally from the US and were brought from Europe. Researchers at the University of Kentucky claim that the caterpillar problem began in 1869 when a French scientist tried to experiment with gypsy moths on his window sill to check the possibility of a viable silkworm market in the US.

It was after a wind gust blew the caterpillars out of the scientist's window that the first major outbreak took place in the region after almost 20 years, and the same has been hitting every decade since then. What's more alarming is the fact that experts fear the outbreak to worsen next year.

Are you facing caterpillar problem in your area? Let us know in comments below.