2018 Year In Review: Insects, Animals, Plants

In our 2018 Year in Review, Hudson Valley Post is looking back on the top news stories for the year. We digging into the archives regarding insects, animals, plants; business; wild weather; fatalities; and celebrities.

In this post, we take a look back at the insects, wild animals and plants that gave the Hudson Valley a scare!

A cute, fuzzy but poisonous caterpillar was spotted in New York.

The white hickory tussock moth caterpillar was spotted a number of times in the Albany area. The poisonous caterpillar has also been seen in the Catskills.

There are also reports of the caterpillar appearing in Orange, Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties.

A deadly tick-spread virus that causes dangerous brain swelling is returned to the area.

The Powassan virus is spread by the same deer tick that carries Lyme disease. Powassan, which in some cases has been fatal, attacks the nervous system and can cause dangerous brain swelling.

Health departments from Dutchess and Columbia counties confirmed a resident from each county were diagnosed with the Powassan virus.

There's also another rare tick to worry about. An exotic tick which can transmit a virus that kills many is spreading rapidly in the United States.
The CDC confirmed the Asian longhorned tick has been spotted in nine states including New York.

A "giant horror plant" that can cause blindness and severe burns was found in the Hudson Valley.

The Giant hogweed is found all over New York State, including in the Hudson Valley, according to the DEC.

In November, a Hudson Valley man claimed he found a cockroach in his Burger King burger.

Animals, Reptiles, Fish