I keep finding small brown caterpillars in my house in Mililani. I found 10 one day. They're not in any one room and I find them on my carpets as well as tile floors. Is there an infestation and are they harmful in any way? Small brown caterpillars
more nuisance than dangerState Department of Agriculture taxonomist Bernarr Kumashiro can't be 100 percent sure, but from your description, he suspects they're monkeypod/
kiawe caterpillars.
He suggests bringing one in to his office at 1428 S. King St. for a positive ID and possible solution. Hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
He wouldn't be surprised if it is the monkeypod/kiawe caterpillar, since they like to feed on monkeypod shoots, which sprout this time of the year.
At night, they'll crawl down their host trees and into homes. They're more of a nuisance than a danger, although they can affect the growth of the trees in large enough numbers.
For this caterpillar, Kumashiro suggests banding an 8-inch-
wide strip of carpet around the tree trunk, which will attract the caterpillars. After a few days, they can be brushed into a pan.
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