Touch Me Not: Bizarre Caterpillar Found in North America Can Deliver a Powerful Sting That Can Damage Tissues

The saddleback caterpillar (Acharia stimulea) is the larva of a moth species native to North America. Still, it can also be found in Mexico, and some parts of Central and Southern America.

The bizarre-looking caterpillar can be easily identified by its characteristic markings in its brown body on the front and rear ends with a green middle and brown oval in the center surrounded by a white outline. The larvae can reach just under an inch but deliver a powerful sting because of their toxic venom.

How Venomous are Saddleback Caterpillar's Sting?

Saddleback caterpillars often prefer to eat the shrub spicebush, although they can also be seen feeding on different plant species. According to Newsweek, caterpillars of several moth species can sting, with some documents indicating that about 150 out of 160,000 species are known to cause adverse reactions.

That is why experts warn against direct contact with the venomous hairs or spines of the caterpillars that act as their natural defense mechanism against predators. Their spines can easily break off and become embedded in the skin, delivering a potent, toxic venom that can damage the tissue. Victims may feel intense burning sensation and inflammation when the spines get stuck under their skin.

In the US, one of the locations where saddleback caterpillars are found is in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. Margo Roseum, an education technician for the park, told Newsweek that the saddleback caterpillar's sting could vary in pain and severity depending on the number of spines that made contact, contact time, size of the caterpillar, and sensitivity of the person to sting.

Removing the spines can reduce the pain, but some may require medical attention. Sometimes, the symptoms are so severe that it leads to anaphylactic shock, hemorrhage, or other severe reactions.

Roseum added that these caterpillars make themselves known by showing off bright colors, large horns, and long, stinging spines. Their green back warns predators that they are venomous creatures that should not be taken for granted.

But for those stung, immediate first aid is needed by washing the site to remove toxic substances, stripping the affected region using an adhesive duct tape to remove the spines, applying ice packs, and taking in oral antihistamines or intramuscular corticosteroids.

Other Venomous Caterpillars

Spiny, venomous caterpillars become adult moths in many colors, like black, brown, green, red, and yellow. These caterpillars are covered in fur or are in strange shapes, as if warning predators and humans not to pick them. In general, experts warn against touching hairy caterpillars, especially if they are brightly colored, as they are mostly venomous.

An article on the website Lawn Starter identified some venomous caterpillars, including the saddleback caterpillar. But aside from them, here are six others that should be avoided: