For residents of the village of Hersden, coronavirus lockdown has been made all the more miserable thanks to a sudden influx of toxic creepy crawlies that cause painful rashes and even asthma attacks.
And people there have now been warned to be on the lookout for the 7mm to 38mm brown-tailed bugs – because their barbed hairs can penetrate skin and cause breathing difficulties.
The parish council of Hersden, east of Canterbury, has urged people to be vigilant if they encounter the brown-tail moth caterpillar.
Kent County Council has also revealed it will be sending a team of specialists to treat the area in a bid to tackle the infestation.