If You See This Caterpillar Run For Your Life

It’s that time of year again when the asp caterpillar, puss caterpillar, or southern flannel moth caterpillar makes it’s appearance.  You never see just one.  If you see one, there is sure to be more around.  That’s a bad thing.  If you see one run for the hills.  The bite is said to be worse than a bee sting and can cause you a great deal of pain for as long as 12 hours.  Experts say that you need to educate your children to avoid these caterpillars as they are especially dangerous for children.

 The caterpillars are little over an inch long, teardrop-shaped and covered with long, silky hairs, ranging in color from light brown to yellow to gray, according to KVUE. Coming into contact with one could mean burning pain, swelling, nausea and itching.

Molly Keck, an entomologist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, explained how such a small creature could cause such a painful reaction.

“They have spines underneath their body that have venom glands, so when they land on you, those spines can dislodge and get stuck in your skin and that venom just kind of trickles out like a stinger would and you can react to that pretty badly,” Keck said, according to KENS.

Keck said the insects can usually be found around oak and elm trees, and that they usually appear in groups.

And even after one of these caterpillar has been killed, their venom can still hurt you.

“So even when you treat them and they fall out of the tree dead, don’t even pick one up if it’s dead,” Keck warned.

National Geographic has deemed this species “the most venomous caterpillar in the U.S,” nicknaming them the “toxic toupees” because of their fluffy appearance. 

University of Florida entomologist Don Hall told National Geographic the severity of the pain depends on where the victim gets stung and how many spines get embedded in the skin.

“People who have been stung on the hand say the pain can radiate up to their shoulder and last for up to 12 hours,” Hall explained.

H/T Conservative Tribune