It’s that time of year again. And we’re not talking about hurricane season.
News 6 viewer Joel Mathis shared a picture of a fuzzy caterpillar after Hurricane Milton stormed through the area. Mathis said he found it on his fence while cleaning up debris.
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“Be very careful picking up debris and/or hand tools that lay in the backyard,” he wrote.
It’s a sound piece of advice, as these furry-looking “Puss Caterpillars” are actually incredibly dangerous.
According to researchers at the University of Florida, Puss Caterpillars seem to be covered in soft hairs. However, those hairs hide stiff spines attached to poison glands on the bug’s body.
If a person comes in contact with these spines, they’ll break off and stick in the person’s skin, causing severe pain.
[RELATED: Where Milton ranks among strongest Atlantic hurricanes | Strongest winds so far in Central Florida from Hurricane Milton | Download the FREE News 6 hurricane app]
Back in 2019, Bri Oteri of Dade City said she accidentally came in contact with one of these critters when she leaned up against a wooden fence during her son’s sports practice.
“All of a sudden, I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was going to pass out — and then came the pain,” she explained at the time. “In my chest, in my entire right arm, radiating from my wrist all throughout my shoulder. The pain was so excruciating. I was hysterically crying in the hospital, pleading for the doctors and nurses to help me. Morphine didn’t even touch the pain.”
These caterpillars can be difficult to see, as they usually span around 2.5 cm long with grayish-brown hairs, helping them blend in with wood. This makes it even harder to see them, as they can very often be found on oaks and citrus trees.
“The puss caterpillar is the larval stage of the native southern flannel moth. Its host plants include almond, apple, birch, hackberry, orange, pecan, persimmon, and rose... This species of caterpillar has venomous spines hidden amidst an extremely hairy/furry body to protect itself from predators; however, unless directly handled, they do not pose a threat to people. These moths and their associated larvae are very much part of Florida’s native fauna, and both adults and larvae provide eco-services such as being prey items (the adult moths especially, but even the larvae are parasitized by wasps & flies, and sometimes directly consumed by vertebrates such as lizards…at least once) and the recycling of abandoned larval cocoons used as retreats for shelter or brooding young (e.g., spiders, ants, wasps). They’re also beautiful and ornate; if you observe one, simply appreciate from a distance.”
Lisa Thompson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
While a prick can require medical attention, Florida’s Poison Control Center in Tampa has the following advice for those unfortunate enough to suffer a sting:
- Place Scotch tape over the affected area and strip off repeatedly to remove the spines.
- Apply ice packs to reduce the stinging sensation.
- Follow up with a paste made of baking soda and water.
- If you have a history of hay fever, asthma or allergy, or if allergic reactions develop, contact a physician immediately.
Luckily, these caterpillars don’t tend to be a year-round issue. There are only two generations of Puss Caterpillars each year in Florida: one is spring and another in fall. Just be sure to watch your step.
Have you seen any Puss Caterpillars near you? If so, share your pictures with News 6 here.
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