by Natalie Ivanov

Created on: November 13, 2009

The hairy Puss Caterpillar

This caterpillar is also commonly known as [1] Megalopyge Opercularis, Southern flannel moth, pussy moth, puss caterpillar, tree asp and asp caterpillar. It is a rather strange looking insect which truly depicts the names it is referred to as. [2]Pictures of the various shapes and sizes of this very unusual yard insect are available to look at on the internet.

Don't let the soft hairy image portrayed by the caterpillar fool you, it is not a very good idea to touch this deceptive looking creature. Its appearance may look soft and fluffy however you should not touch it, as it will certainly lead to an extreme skin irritation. In some cases you may even have to see a doctor for treatment. [3]Other symptoms that may be experienced are burning, swelling, nausea, headaches, rashes, blisters and sometimes even chest pains.

Should you or one of your children be exposed to one of these creatures, it is recommended that you firstly try to remove the spines or hairs using cello tape, apply ice or ice packs to ease the sting, then consult your doctor.

When the caterpillar turns into a moth it is also a rather strange looking insect, it kind of looks a little like a hairy spider with six legs and wings like a fly. The color of the moth is an orange to yellow, with the legs being yellow, with black toward the fuzzy feet.

[4] The Puss caterpillar gets its name from slightly resembling a Persian cat, and is usually found throughout North and South America

So this creature may look cute and cuddly but I would suggest that you warn your children not to touch this strange yet alluring looking creature and others like it as it can cause a very nasty rash, extreme pain and severe discomfort. Most caterpillars that have hairs on their bodies use this to protect themselves against predators, it is their body armor. They may even consider prying fingers to be an unwanted predator trying to catch them, so they release their venomous spines into your skin to warn you off. I can assure you that warned you will be! It is not a pleasant experience. I have not been stung by this particular species of caterpillar but I have experienced it from others.

[1] Megalopyge Opercularis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalopyge_opercularis

[2] Images of Megalopyge Opercularis - http://images.google.co.za/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=puss+caterpillar&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=4Gb6St3xK4y4ngfQhpiDDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBAQsAQwAA

[3] Symptoms experienced- -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalopyge_opercularis

[4] Looks & location -http://www.asktheexterminator.com/Caterpillar/Caterp illar_Sting.shtml

Learn more about this author, Natalie Ivanov.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.