Lauren Chambers’ 5-year-old daughter, Adrie, was playing outside of her daycare last week when workers believe a Southern flannel moth caterpillar fell from a tree and bit her on the arm, according toNBC Dallas-Fortworth. The insect — which isfoundin New Jersey and Florida, and westward to Arkansas and Texas — is also known as the “furry puss” caterpillar due to the hair that covers its body, which can resemble a cat, according toNational Geographic.
Because of its cute appearance, children commonly reach out to pet the insect and suffer a painful and poisonous sting when they come into contact with the spines hidden beneath its hair.
When daycare workers discovered what happened and that Adrie was experiencing swelling and an upset stomach following the bite, they immediately phoned her mother.
University of Florida entomologist Don Hall said the caterpillar’s toxic spines can cause enough pain to make “your bones hurt.”
NBCDFW
“A puss caterpillar sting feels like a bee sting, only worse. The pain immediately and rapidly gets worse after being stung, and can even make your bones hurt,” Hall toldNational Geographic.
“How bad the sting hurts depends on where you get stung and how many spines are embedded in your skin. People who have been stung on the hand say the pain can radiate up to their shoulder and last for up to 12 hours.”
While speaking to NBC, Adrie said the bite caused a “burning” sensation on her right arm. The pain from the sting can last up to 12 hours.
“They said if that had not happened it could actually cause her whole body to go numb and start shutting down,” Chambers said.
While speaking to the new station, Chambers was still in disbelief about what happened to her daughter.
“How does that happen? We have those here in Texas?” she asked. “I mean I never even heard of those before yesterday.”
Fortunately, as NBC notes, the caterpillars will be heading into their cocoons in the next few weeks. When they turn into moths, their poisonous spines will be gone.
source: people.com
