Caterpillars which sting

By the next day, his hand looked normal. Hossler EW. Caterpillars and moths: part I. Dermatologic manifestations of encounters with Lepidoptera. J Am Acad Dermatol. Caterpillars and moths: part 2. The Bottom Line Many caterpillars have hairs or spines. The Full Story Caterpillars cause a surprising number of stings for such small creatures.

To treat a caterpillar exposure: If the caterpillar is on the skin, remove it without using your hands! Gently put tape over the exposed area, sticky side down. Any kind of tape will do. Pull up the tape, removing the hairs or spines. Repeat with fresh pieces of tape as often as needed to treat the area involved. Wash the area gently with soap and water. If the area itches, put on a paste of baking soda and water. If that doesn't help, try a hydrocortisone cream.

If that doesn't help, try an antihistamine cream. Also, some people have skin reactions to these creams. If the area is badly blistered, contact your health provider. Call your health provider about a tetanus booster if your shots are not up to date.

Wear a hat and gloves while gardening. If a caterpillar is stuck to the skin, remove it with a stick or tool.

Some of these urticating hairs Bessin has examined under a microscope have specific weak points to help them break off in the skin, slowly oozing out the poison. Luckily, the caterpillars themselves are not aggressive, he says. Children are at particular risk though, says the Louisiana State University Extension. These spiny, venomous caterpillars become adult moths, many with wonderful colorations.

They come in bright green and yellows, even reds, browns and blacks. They come covered in fur or in strange shapes. Stinging caterpillars thrive in a wide range of environments and vary widely in appearance across the country. Around Kentucky and the Southeast there are probably a dozen total species, Bessin says. Instead, if you find one on the willow tree next to the swingset, or in the front driveway, use a stick or other object to move it to a safer location.

Small, brown and hairy, a green shape across the top of its back looks like a saddle blanket while a small brown circle directly in the middle of its back looks like a saddle. According to the Florida institute , saddleback caterpillars range throughout the eastern half of the United States, from South Florida to Maine and from Virginia to west to Nebraska.

Most of the stinging hairs are on horn-like formations on either end, with rows of more stinging hairs along either side. Some favorite foods include maples, hibiscus and crape myrtle. If stung, burning, inflammation and red blanching may occur around the affected area, which can also become a rash or welts that swell and itch. It looks more like a furry mouse than the typical green, worm-like picture most people bring to mind when they think caterpillar.

Completely covered with soft, brown, fur-like hairs, the puss caterpillar is stout-bodied, growing to about 1 inch long. Their spines are hollow with a toxin gland at the base. The larger the caterpillar is, the more toxic its sting. Io moth caterpillars are pale green with yellow-white and red stripes running down its sides.

Much like the Saddleback, io moth caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants, but prefer hibiscus, elms, maples, wisteria and willows. Like the puss caterpillar, the hag caterpillar or hag moth caterpillar hardly looks like a caterpillar at all, but more like a small, browned leaf.

Caterpillars may also be seen feeding on dwarf yaupon and other shrubs. One to two generations occur each year, though southern flannel moth caterpillars tend to be more common in the fall.

The caterpillar spends the winter within a unique-shaped cocoon. Cocoons can be found on the trunk or branches of the host plant. At one end of the cocoon a trap door is provided for the escape of the adult as it emerges from the pupal case.

The dorsal surface of the cocoon is marked by a structure similar to a leaf scar. The color is about the same as that of the larva, because the larval hairs are incorporated in the silk. Puss moth caterpillars rarely cause serious damage to trees; however they can pose a health hazard to children and gardeners. Intense, throbbing pain develops immediately or within five minutes of contact with the caterpillar.

Stings on the arm may also result in pain in the axillary armpit region. Erythematous blood-colored spots may appear at the site of the sting. Other symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, lymphadenopathy, lymphadenitis, and sometimes shock or respiratory stress.

Pain usually subsides within an hour and spots disappear in a day or so. Stings from the southern flannel moth caterpillar. An ice pack should be applied to the site of the sting, and oral antihistamines can be administered to help relieve the itching and burning sensations. For caterpillars with stout spines such Io moth and saddleback caterpillar , try carefully applying cellophane tape to, and stripping it from, the sting site.