Weird Wonderful Wildlife #14 – The Puss Moth Caterpillar

(c) J.R Baker, content.ces.ncsu.edu

The puss moth caterpillar made my list not for what it becomes (a common and benign type of flannel moth) but because of what it can do to you in its larval stage. Although it looks a bit like Howard Cosell’s toupee on a bad day, its hairs are a powerful defense mechanism which dislodge when touched. The toxin they release creates pain that is strong enough it has sent some victims to the hospital complaining of bone pain. The intensity of the reaction depends on how many hairs sting you and where you get stung. If you’re unfortunate enough to incur the wrath of the puss moth’s sting, the best way to treat it is to cover the area with a piece of scotch tape and rip it off to remove the hairs. Then you can treat it like you would any other bee sting with pain relievers, baking soda poultices or antihistamines. Many caterpillars are toxic in some way, so it’s best to leave them alone if you don’t know what they are. Besides protecting yourself, you’ll be doing the world of nocturnal pollinators a solid by giving them the chance to mature into mysterious moths.

Source:

nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/toupee-caterpillar-venemous-animal-weird-insect

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