| Stinging Caterpillars By Laura Vonk |
Most people know that bees, wasps, hornets and some ants can sting to defend them-
selves. Only a few people realize, usually from first hand experience, that some caterpillars
can produce some painful stings. Recognizing the few stinging caterpillar species may
prevent irritating encounters.
Stinging caterpillars possess hollow quill-like hairs, connected to poison sacs, that when
touched break through the skin releasing the poison. Reactions can range from mild itching
to a more severe pain, dermatitis and even intestinal disturbances.
Most encounters with stinging caterpillars happen when accidentally brushing against leaves
on which they are feeding. The chances of running into these insects are relatively low, but
the more time spent in wooded areas, the greater the opportunity for contact. Most of these
caterpillars are distinctly marked or brightly colored. This can help you see and avoid them.
If you find one on yourself, don’t brush it off or slap it with a bare hand. Use a stick or other
object to remove it carefully. Many people get stung from not realizing it’s on them and it
gets caught under the arm or in the crease of their elbow or knee and they accidentally smash
it. Another way people get stung is when grabbing a limb to move it out of the way of their
faces when walking or riding on overgrown trails and not seeing the caterpillar because it
was feeding on the underneath surface of the leaves.
No really effective home first aid treatments for caterpillar stings are available. Adhesive
tape can be used to pull out some of the broken spines in the sting area. Washing with soap
and water may remove some of the venom. Application of ice pack or baking soda may
help to reduce pain and swelling. Antihistaminic drugs, like Benedryl, are reportedly
ineffective. If you know that you are sensitive to insect stings, or if a severe reaction occurs,
get medical attention. Very young, aged, or people in poor health are more likely to suffer
severe reactions.
The two most venous caterpillars are the Puss Caterpillar and the Saddleback Caterpillar.
selves. Only a few people realize, usually from first hand experience, that some caterpillars
can produce some painful stings. Recognizing the few stinging caterpillar species may
prevent irritating encounters.
Stinging caterpillars possess hollow quill-like hairs, connected to poison sacs, that when
touched break through the skin releasing the poison. Reactions can range from mild itching
to a more severe pain, dermatitis and even intestinal disturbances.
Most encounters with stinging caterpillars happen when accidentally brushing against leaves
on which they are feeding. The chances of running into these insects are relatively low, but
the more time spent in wooded areas, the greater the opportunity for contact. Most of these
caterpillars are distinctly marked or brightly colored. This can help you see and avoid them.
If you find one on yourself, don’t brush it off or slap it with a bare hand. Use a stick or other
object to remove it carefully. Many people get stung from not realizing it’s on them and it
gets caught under the arm or in the crease of their elbow or knee and they accidentally smash
it. Another way people get stung is when grabbing a limb to move it out of the way of their
faces when walking or riding on overgrown trails and not seeing the caterpillar because it
was feeding on the underneath surface of the leaves.
No really effective home first aid treatments for caterpillar stings are available. Adhesive
tape can be used to pull out some of the broken spines in the sting area. Washing with soap
and water may remove some of the venom. Application of ice pack or baking soda may
help to reduce pain and swelling. Antihistaminic drugs, like Benedryl, are reportedly
ineffective. If you know that you are sensitive to insect stings, or if a severe reaction occurs,
get medical attention. Very young, aged, or people in poor health are more likely to suffer
severe reactions.
The two most venous caterpillars are the Puss Caterpillar and the Saddleback Caterpillar.
| Puss Caterpillar |
| Saddleback Caterpillar |
Even in people who are not overly sensitive to insect stings, these two caterpillars can cause
severe symptoms, including: Immediate, intense pain that often comes in waves; a swelling,
itching rash of red blotches and raised ridges; restlessness and anxiety; nausea and vomiting;
fever; muscle cramps; swollen glands; and symptoms of shock.
The Puss Caterpillar has the worse sting of the two, and the sting severity increases with the
size of the caterpillar. However, young caterpillars often feed in groups so the severity of
stings can be worse if stung by multiple young instead of one adult caterpillar. They are often
in late summer feeding on various trees and shrubs, including elm, maple, hack berry, oak,
sycamore and others.
Saddlebacks are also found in late summer and they usually feed on deciduous trees such as
basswood, chestnut, cherry, oak and plum. Occasionally they can be found on corn.
severe symptoms, including: Immediate, intense pain that often comes in waves; a swelling,
itching rash of red blotches and raised ridges; restlessness and anxiety; nausea and vomiting;
fever; muscle cramps; swollen glands; and symptoms of shock.
The Puss Caterpillar has the worse sting of the two, and the sting severity increases with the
size of the caterpillar. However, young caterpillars often feed in groups so the severity of
stings can be worse if stung by multiple young instead of one adult caterpillar. They are often
in late summer feeding on various trees and shrubs, including elm, maple, hack berry, oak,
sycamore and others.
Saddlebacks are also found in late summer and they usually feed on deciduous trees such as
basswood, chestnut, cherry, oak and plum. Occasionally they can be found on corn.
| Buck Moth Caterpillar |
This caterpillar is about two inches, is brown to purplish-black with numerous yellow spots.
The body is protected with branched reddish spines that may have red or black tips. These
can be quite common from spring to mid summer on oak or willow trees.
The body is protected with branched reddish spines that may have red or black tips. These
can be quite common from spring to mid summer on oak or willow trees.
| Io Moth Caterpillar |
This one is overall a light green, but along each side there is a narrow reddish line bordered
below by a white line. Grown caterpillars are two inches long and covered with branched,
black-pointed green spines. They feed of a variety of plants including corn, roses, willow,
elm, oak, locust, apple, beech, ash, currant, and clover.
below by a white line. Grown caterpillars are two inches long and covered with branched,
black-pointed green spines. They feed of a variety of plants including corn, roses, willow,
elm, oak, locust, apple, beech, ash, currant, and clover.
| Euclea Delphinii |
This pale yellow-green caterpillar has four dark patches of spines toward the rear and
numerous spiny, yellow or red fleshy lobes. Grown caterpillars have a brown area on the
back. It feeds on oak, beech, chestnut, willow, pear, bayberry, sour wood, wild cherry and
other trees.
numerous spiny, yellow or red fleshy lobes. Grown caterpillars have a brown area on the
back. It feeds on oak, beech, chestnut, willow, pear, bayberry, sour wood, wild cherry and
other trees.
| Hag Moth Caterpillar |
This bizarre looking caterpillar resembles a dried leaf. It is brown with nine pairs of fleshy
lobes, all capable of moving like arms and all with stinging hairs. It is found on lower
branches of assorted trees and shrubs, including oak, chestnut, dogwood, sassafras, and
ash. They are usually found feeding on the underneath surfaces of the leaves.
lobes, all capable of moving like arms and all with stinging hairs. It is found on lower
branches of assorted trees and shrubs, including oak, chestnut, dogwood, sassafras, and
ash. They are usually found feeding on the underneath surfaces of the leaves.
| Stinging Rose Caterpillar |
A yellow to red spiny caterpillar with black and blue stripes down the middle of it’s back
and a less distinct red, blue and black stripes along the side of the body. There are
prominent spiny horns on the front, rear and center of the body. They can be found
feeding of bushes and low tree branches of redbud, oak, hickory, bayberry, wild cherry
and sycamore.
and a less distinct red, blue and black stripes along the side of the body. There are
prominent spiny horns on the front, rear and center of the body. They can be found
feeding of bushes and low tree branches of redbud, oak, hickory, bayberry, wild cherry
and sycamore.
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