Humans have evolved reflexes over thousands of years, and they have also learned to avoid certain animals and other creatures.
While the vast majority of animals are completely safe to people, it is nevertheless prudent to exercise caution when out in nature.
It had been a routine day out with the kids until she noticed a strange ball-shaped fuzzy creature. That’s what Mother Leslie Howe did when out with her family at a tiny park.
Leslie, a Georgian mother, observed an unusual object near her children at the neighborhood playground in 2014. It had been a routine family outing until Leslie discovered a strange ball-shaped hairy monster.
The mother followed her instincts. And it would turn out to be a wise decision in the end. “Feels like a wasp sting, but worse”
Leslie was in a park in Gwinnett County, Georgia, with her infant and two other young children when the “fur ball” caught her eye. Despite its small size and first harmless aspect, she felt compelled to avoid it.
Despite the fact that this story was originally published a few years ago, it is resurfacing online to alert all American parents to the danger.
Leslie had hoped that by sharing her story, others would be warned to avoid the suspicious fur ball, which turned out to be a Megalopyge Opercularis larva, also known as the puss caterpillar.
The name could be derived from how similar the caterpillar’s velvety fur is to that of a cat. The bug may inject poison, but its appearance suggests otherwise. The venomous bristles beneath the hair are hidden.
These larvae, which can grow to reach 1 inch long, can be found throughout the majority of the United States. According to NPR, they were “feasting on foliage in states ranging from New Jersey to Florida and as far west as Texas.”
The sting of the puss caterpillar is highly severe, therefore avoid handling it at all times. If you do that, they may stick to you and inject their poison.
“It’s like a wasp sting, only worse.” The agony is instantaneous and intensifies once the thing adheres, and it can even cause bone damage. It depends on where it gets trapped and how many tags have dug into your skin to determine how badly it gets stuck. People who have had it trapped on their hands have reported feeling discomfort up to their shoulders for up to twelve hours, according to ethnologist Don Hall, according to Expressen.
Eric Day, manager of Virginia Tech’s Insect ID Lab, has undoubtedly been harmed by the sting of the puss caterpillar. He was bitten by the strange-locking caterpillar while mowing the lawn at his rural Virginia home.
“The burning sensation went away in a day or so, but that blister and then subsequent kind of irritated area was visible for several weeks,” he recalled.
If this caterpillar stings you, properly wash the affected area with soap and water after removing the dangerous hairs with tape. If the sting site begins to itch, the National Capital Poison Centre recommends applying baking powder or hydrocortisone cream to the affected region. Seek medical attention if the situation worsens.
Puss caterpillars are rarely lethal, but their sting can provoke anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.
Take a peek at this strange and fascinating caterpillar:
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