3/22/2023 0 Comments Asp worml length![]() ![]() ![]() They are long, skinny eels that can range in size from 5-55 inches in length. So to all Floridians, if you see the adorable puss caterpillar, remember to keep your hands to yourself! To satisfy your curiosity, check out this video of a puss caterpillar emerging from its hairy cocoon as a puss moth. There are around 14 species in this family of eels. They live on oak, citrus, and elm trees, and they eat leaves of plants such as apple, oak, persimmon, birch, pecan, almond, and hackberry. In Florida, they flourish twice a year during the spring and again during the fall. Puss caterpillars live on various trees and garden plants in many different places of the United States and Central America, from Maryland to Florida, and further west all the way to Texas. Cellophane tape can be used to remove the broken spines, followed by a paste of baking soda and water, hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion and ice packs to help relieve the swelling at the site of the stinging. ![]() Victims that suffer from pre-existing health conditions such as allergies, asthma, and cardiovascular problems can experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, numbness, chest pain, and exaggerated symptoms typical of their health condition. Photo from Adriana Margarita Larios Arellano/Shutter Stock Symptoms of envenomation include nausea, headache, migraine, swelling, stinging and burning sensations, abdominal cramping, blisters, and rash. The venom in these spines can cause extremely painful reactions for the victim that may travel up the limb and may require medical attention. Their most obvious characteristic makes them irresistible for some to touch, but it hides a simple contraption that proves poisonous to even the slightest human contact.īeneath the fuzzy coat lies venomous spines that break off into the flesh of anything that touches the puss caterpillar. Golden-brown fur with fuzzy black legs gives a false appearance of a bumble bee if you don’t know what you’re looking at. In lieu of spinning a cocoon, this fascinating creatures sheds its fur coat and uses it to shield itself while it pupates. Their color varies from grey-white to golden-brown to charcoal-grey. The larva of a puss caterpillar typically grows to about one inch in length. However, its name and fuzzy appearance is a bit of a trick - though its name and appearance lend to a docile and friendly nature, the reality is anything but. The “puss” derives from the larvae’s resemblance to a Persian cat because of its coat of fur that sometimes can be puffy and even curly. Other names include tree asp, asp caterpillar, and pussy moth. Florida is in the midst of its semi-annual influx of Megalopyge opercularis, the scientific name for the fuzzy and deceptively cute puss caterpillar. ![]()
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