The word on the street is that these frightfully prolific insects hatch in droves every 16 years. If that is true, than this is the 16th year.

These furry black caterpillars are everywhere; they’ve been falling into our hair, onto our shoulders, and onto our patio table. Yesterday’s downpour sent them all to our house. They are climbing all over our siding, patio, doors. Utterly disgusting. The neighborhood is fighting back. I spotted one neighbor out back with his lighter, burning the poor dears, one hairy body at a time. Another neighbor was beating them with a broom. I opted out of engaging the bugs at all and convinced Viv to hibernate inside with me for the afternoon (after calling Ryan for moral support).