Posted on 10/19/2018 12:29:11 PM PDT by ETL
SPRING HILL (FOX 13) - One of the most venomous caterpillars in the United States is found all across Florida. In the Bay Area, several people have reported seeing puss caterpillars in their backyards.
One Spring Hill man said he was stung by one a few days ago.
"It's definitely incapacitating," said Michael Dusk. "It feels extremely painful."
The Florida Poison Control Center reports receiving a fair amount of calls about caterpillar bites on a yearly basis.
"Great to look at, don't touch them," said Dr. Alfred Aleguas, the director of the Florida Poison Control Center in Tampa Bay.
Although bites from puss caterpillars can cause significant pain, experts said in most cases, an ER visit is not necessary.
"If you call us right away, we can tell you things to do to relieve a lot of the pain," said Aleguas, who added that removing the spines from the wound is a critical part of recovery. Related Headlines
Teen recovering after puss caterpillar sting Boy stung by venomous caterpillar Florida scientists: Don't touch this bug
A Riverview couple said they found three puss caterpillars behind their home.
They said they resisted the temptation to touch them and quickly removed them away from their pets.
"You just have to be aware that it's not a bug that you pick up," said Paula Lasswell. "And you should always not pick up caterpillars in Florida, but I think that that's an unusual one that looks like you want to touch it."
Got me TWO times in the past three months.
Stings for days.
Great Flaming Wolf Spiders!!!
I saw features on this caterpillar a few years ago.
Back then, they were saying it looked like Donald Trump’s ‘Toupee’.
We used to and still do call these little dudes “asps”.
Never knew they were called puss caterpillars.
Thanks for the info. Nasty little creature.
Ugly little spuds.
Aw - sweet kitty! OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
“Teen recovering after sting Boy stung by venomous caterpillar Florida scientists: Don’t touch this bug”
Let this be a lesson son. Be very wary of the dreaded puss caterpillar.
“You should always not pick up caterpillars in Florida”
Great.
Now what do I do?
I saw one standing beside the road hitchhiking and I stopped and picked it up because it was raining out.
How do I get rid of it?
Not put down the toilet seat?
Yikes.
I kicked up a ground beehive last weekend and got tagged twice on the cheek. That was relatively painful too
“What if I like see one in Missouri? Can I pick up a caterpillar there?”
“Well, Jimmy, if you see a caterpillar in Missouri, you should try to ascertain whether it might be a Florida caterpillar.”
“And how do I do that, Mr Science?”
“You must lift up their hair and look underneath. A Florida caterpillar will have oranges under the hair.”
“Gee! Thanks, Mr Science!”
“”Just part of my job, Jimmy. If he’s carrying Buckeyes, then it’s probably an Ohio caterpillar.”
In Texas, we call them Mexican Asp.
I was climbing a tree when I was a kid and contacted one with the inside of my upper arm. I’m 65 and can still remember the pain.
Can we hurry up and get Code Pink to knit them some of those purty pink hats?
I write this off on my loss of eyesight. I used to be able to see things and avoid contact. Those days are less and less, need gloves now, more and more.
Most Florida caterpillars will sting.
I was stung once as a teenager mowing the lawn, brushed by a bush that had one on it.
It was like someone set my entire arm on fire!......................
If Floridians don’t want liberals flocking to their state then one idea might be for the Florida State Seminoles to change their mascot to the Florida State Puss Caterpillars.
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