Stay away from colorful and fuzzy caterpillars. They might literally kill you with their venom.
Two caterpillars have been making their way across the country, causing widespread concern for potential harm for many Americans.
The American dagger caterpillar has been spotted on a college campus (at Mid Michigan College’s campus) in Michigan. The Clare County Chamber of Commerce issued a warning for residents to avoid the caterpillar if they see it, according to CBS News. The chamber warned that the caterpillar may seem cute but it could poison you.
- “This American dagger caterpillar (Acronicta americana) was spotted during a hike through the beautiful trails on Mid Michigan College’s campus. These cute caterpillars may seem harmless, but they are indeed poisonous.”
- “DO NOT PICK THEM UP! Both children and adults can be affected by them. Symptoms include the following: stinging sensation followed by a burning, itching sensation on the skin which can develop into a rash.”
The puss caterpillar has been spotted in Florida, Texas and South Carolina. A Florida woman wrote a Facebook post explaining that she had been stung.
The Florida Poison Information Center in Tampa, Florida, warned that an allergic reaction could really harm those with histories of hay fever, asthma or allergies, according to Fox News.
Alfred Aleguas, the director of the center in Tampa Bay, told Fox News that people should stay away from puss caterpillars.
“Great to look at, (but) don’t touch them,” Aleguas added.
Context: These types of caterpillars rarely make their way into the northern United States. They’re pretty rare in general, even though they’ll appear now and again in the South, according to David Wagner, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut, told USA Today.
Symptoms from the sting can include severe pain that will last for hours. Itching, burning and a severe rash are all on the table. Sometimes the stings can leave hematomas behind.
“It’s not an instantaneous shock of a hornet or wasp, but it builds for a long time in a frightening way,” Wagner told USA Today. “No one expects stings to gain in impact or discomfort, and these will, even up to an hour later. It packs quite a wallop.”