The furry looking caterpillar you see in this video, that looks like a walking mini-toupee, is highly toxic. The unassuming insect is known as a puss caterpillar and over time it changes dramatically as it transforms into an adult. After it finishes developing it turns into a furry winged insect known as a southern flannel moth, and sometimes it’s called a puss moth.
The bugs only pose a threat when they are in their caterpillar form and contact with them should be avoided at all costs. However, it’s their soft and fuzzy appearance that’s highly deceiving and the hair-like spikes draw kids to them and encourages children to reach out and pick them up.
The caterpillars can also come into contact with skin when they fall out of trees or land on people from above. They favor citrus, sycamore, oak, and elm trees, as well as plants like roses and ivy. The puss caterpillars are found in southern parts of the United States and throughout Mexico and Central America. Recently they have been in the news because of increased reports of them injuring kids and causing painful reactions.
What makes them so fearsome and nasty is their fuzzy exteriors. The furs are actually venomous spines which cause excruciating pain when they come into contact with people’s skin. Reactions to the stings can be severe, with radiating pain, burning, nausea, vomiting, swelling, rashes, blisters, and numbness in the affected area.
Sometimes people develop chest pains or have difficulty breathing, and hives or welts may turn up on the sting site. The sting feels worse than any comparable type, beating bees, scorpions, jellyfish, and wasps. Some people have even started to convulse and reported that their pain went deep, causing even their bones hurt.
To lessen your chances of running into one of these bugs and to avoid any pain, stay vigilant and be mindful of the tiny creatures. Make sure that young children know the dangers of them and if you or someone you know does get stung, seek immediate medical attention.
You can also lessen pain by covering the area with tape and then ripping it off. That helps to remove any embedded spines and decreases the pain. Be sure to have fun this summer and be safe!
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