Are Southern Flannel Moth & Puss Caterpillars Poisonous in Weirsdale, FL? Do They Sting?
Southern Flannel Moths are cute, fuzzy, little moths with luxurious coats of hair on their bodies. Known by their formal name, Megalopyge Opercularis, they vary in color from grayish white, charcoal gray, and a golden brown and typically have a bright orange stripe that runs longways down their bodies with beautiful marble markings on their wings. While these little moths are truly adorable, in their previous stage of life as caterpillars they deliver painful, venomous stings and should be avoided at all costs. As herbivores, puss caterpillars are found in heavily wooded areas where big oak trees, elms, poplars and willows are found but occasionally make their way to our gardens because of their love for roses and ivy. These caterpillars and moths are found on the East Coast as far North as New Jersey and as far South as our home state of Florida. They are found here in Florida between late May all the way through July and then again for a brief period in October.
Dangers of Puss Caterpillar Stings
Before their beautiful moth-like state, Southern flannel moths start out as what we call puss caterpillars. These are deemed the most highly poisonous caterpillars found in North America today. These caterpillars have thousands of tiny “hairs” on their bodies. When they are touched, these fine hairs break off and cause painful irritation and a burning itch that can last for at least 12 hours. These tiny hair like things on their bodies are actually spines that are connected to the caterpillar’s venom glands, when they pierce our skin we are injected with their venom and it is extremely painful. The pain is a deep aching pain that feels as if it is going all the way to the bone. An Entomologist named Dr. Justin Schmidt is known for the creation of the Schmidt Pain Index. This is a system that ranks pain scales from bites and stings of various insects. While he has not specifically studied caterpillars just yet, he has noted that the pain of a caterpillar sting lasts longer than most wasp or bee stings. Patients who have been stung have reportedly described the pain as comparable to that of a broken bone or blunt force trauma. Symptoms include pain, rash, itching, burning, swelling and blistering. Last year, here in Florida, a 5-year-old boy accidentally stepped on one when he was playing outside. Stepping on a puss caterpillar is much more painful than merely brushing up against one.
Puss Caterpillar Sting Treatment
1: Apply duct tape to the affected area gently, to remove any lingering spines that can still be causing pain to the site.
2: Apply an ice pack to the site of the sting to reduce swelling.
3: Apply a topical antihistamine to the site such as calamine lotion.
3: If symptoms of allergic reactions or anaphylaxis occur, seek medical treatment right away.
Summer Pest Control
Though the site of one of these can be intriguing, you are urged to stay away from them. Don’t be tempted to touch it and warn children of the dangers of puss caterpillars, especially around this time of year! The simple act of climbing a tree can have devastating consequences. Pest 911 wishes you and your family a safe and happy Summer, and as always, we are readily available for all your pest control needs! Give us a call and schedule your in-home Summer pest assessment today!
