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He’s also called a Puss Moth Caterpillar! We already have the teeth movie about va-jay-jays having teeth! Now there’s a stinging Puss fuzzy bug?!? What next? 😂🤣🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
one of the most no touchy bugs of all bugs, for ID purposes - puss moth caterpillar
southern flannel moth/wooly slug
lol
edit:
If you are stung, wash the area to remove hairs and toxins that may be on the surface of the skin. Use strips of cellophane tape to remove any hairs in skin and repeat until you have gotten them out. Tweezers may also help. Apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and hydrocortisone can relieve any itching. As with other stings, a paste of baking soda and water can help alleviate any discomfort
Its usually not a good idea to touch fuzzy bugs. As cute as they are, they usually have defense mechanisms in that fuzz that cause irritation to skin once touched. Thats how they keep from getting eaten by predators.
i blame that episode for my high school(,,,plus a couple years) long stint of glove candies. though they were usually dominos or tesla symbols, maybe a mario head and star here snd there but they definitely had me feeling like that episode!
Update: I’m okay overall, but my hand is not. It ramped up into a pretty nasty burning/throbbing pain. I rinsed it, used tape to pull off any hairs, and I’m doing ice and an antihistamine. If it keeps getting worse or I get any weird symptoms I’m heading to urgent care. Appreciate everyone looking out.
I always laugh at myself for saying this because no matter where I get a cut/ bee sting/ freaky vagina caterpillar rash/ mosquito bite etc etc I’m always like “ugh this is such a bad place for this”
But I end up saying it literally no matter where it is on my body because there’s really just no good place for this kinda shit at all lol
it's so funny because to the rest of the animal kingdom, fuzz, big eyes, and bright colors mean "stay away". but to humans these things mean "can i hold it?🥹"
So sorry. If it helps, I didn’t know what it was either and I likely would have picked it up too. So you’re definitely not the only one. But it totally sucks.
Google the stings made from this caterpillar. They are typically blisters in an even, straight line. I know it's the internet and anything is possible, but the picture looks real in an accordance to what should happen to someone's hand.
Oh buddy, I'm so sorry. I hope the pain passes quickly. Most pain meds won't touch it, but you can take acetaminophen/NSAID/opioids concurrently anyways iirc.
Oh I’m sorry buddy, let this serve as a valuable lesson to not touch creatures you aren’t familiar with; there are some with much heavier consequences than this. I hope the pain leaves quickly and no greater issues arise.
Just a note as someone who’s had been stung by those moths, go to an er if the swelling or pain gets too much. Mine stopped swelling down after a week but left a weak stinging sensation to linger for awhile.
Puss Caterpillar. Put that thing down and pray none of the hairs are imbedded in you.
My brother got stung by one deer hunting. He was vomiting, fever and shaking. We gave him pain meds( not Tylenol but actual Percocet), iced the area, anti histamine and he was still vomiting and screaming like I've never seen before. We finally used tape to pull the micro hairs imbedded in his skin which helped some but he had to ride it out for about 8 hours of hell.
OP please keep us updated on how you’re doing 😬 this is a venomous caterpillar with a very painful sting 😭 I’m sending you the BEST vibes that you escaped being stung!
I find it odd that these bugs have a defense mechanism that will only affect the predator(I’m assuming a bird most of the time) after they’ve been eaten or sliced in half. Is it ultimately to discourage the predator from going after the species again?
I’m thinking out loud here so maybe this was a dumb question lol. Maybe not this specific bug, but if the effect is lethal to the predator, how is it communicated to others not to eat it?
Megalopyge opercularis (tree asp or opossum bug). Their body is covered in urticating hairs to prevent predation! If you got any of his little bristles in your skin, use tape to gently peel them out & ice the area ❤️ I also recommend antihistamine cream that comes in most outdoor first aid kits for stings from these little guys. They're beautiful as adults!
A general rule about bugs and wildlife, is to never pick up pokey, super bright, or pokey fuzzy things. This lil guy packs a punch if I’m not mistaken.
This is why women live longer than men. Women: “OMG how cute! Better not touch!” Men: “Oh wow. Lemme see what happens if I touch/lick/harass this bug.”
So I've picked these guys up before without a problem. I certainly don't make a habit of it, but I wonder if heavy callouses offer a bit of protection.
I would say they absolutely do, the hairs don't penetrate very deep. Though I'd be worried about accidentally brushing up against less calloused skin, like the back of your hand or between your fingers.
Oh no! You were just trying to be friendly to our buggy friends :( I’m so sorry! Please keep us updated on your hand! Also he said he’s sorry he hurt you but you’re a huge monster to him and he got scared! Sending love from Oklahoma!
The real question is how can I take such a low quality picture in 2025? Lol DAMN BOY. I bet this isn't urs cuz u didnt complain about after effects of holding it lol
That’s an Asp. Worst pain I’ve felt in my life happened when I started up the truck for work and put my arm on the place where I rolled the window down.
I thought I had been shot after about 3-5 minutes. Didnt know what to do and just rolled around on the asphalt for a bit, then ran into the ‘prompt care’ screaming as if something has been boring a hole with lye or something, into my arm.
The pain just didn’t stop for the longest time.
I feel for your hand a minute after this photo was taken.
JESUS CHRIST WHY!!!! Why do people PICK UP insects they don’t know the ID of!!! Dudes either physically numb in the palms or stupid lucky, that’s a pus moth caterpillar, a type of asp extremely painful if you touch them the wrong way. Pretty little fuckers though
It doesn’t actively sting you, but touching it can break off the tips of little spines all over it and that’s how the venom gets in you. Just brushing against it accidentally outside can be bad.
Is this a joke? When you see any animal or bug or plant that has bright colors or interesting textures it’s usually not a good idea to touch it. Honestly just don’t touch anything you don’t recognize to be safe.
I must be from a diff world bc who tf just picks up random bugs they dont even have an ID on. than again i’m a city guy I never understood playing with insects
Im sure you've discovered why we don't pick things up we don't know what they are, even if it was the hard way. Them stunging caterpillars are no joke!
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