Photo is from the ones I already very carefully, removed from my lemon tree. These are saddleback slug catapillars.
Went to get the last stalk of corn, and they are all over the leaves in this bed. I didnt realize and one brushed my face! It hurts!
Aside from the minor panic attack, that I was about to have to call an ambulance, I think I’ll be okay? It def hurts. I did like the internet said and took sticky tape to the area and washed it with soap and water.
They are everywhere in my garden, making me want to not go near it.
I dont think the mantis can eat them for me. Has anyone ever dealt with this?
You may want to consult with a medical professional to be safe – not ER-level, but calling your doctor’s office.
I tired, of course (because of course) this happens at 5:02pm, as soon as all the offices close.
I think I got lucky because it was a quick brush on my forehead. The pain has already gotten a little better, but goodness. How aweful. Ive never seen them in these numbers before. There must be 15 of them on two corn stalks.
Well, obviously, if you start running into trouble catching your breath, don’t fuck around, call an ambulance. You likely already would have if you were going to, but just in case.
If you have antihistamines available, they may help with pain, and will help with itching. Topicals will help with itching specifically.
If you start getting severe nausea, save yourself some time and just hit up na urgent care. It won’t kill you, but it can be bad enough that you’ll wish it could, and most of the home remedy stuff doesn’t help.
Oh! Make sure any spines that broke off are out of your skin, if you didn’t already.
I did. Im almost pain free now.
my wonderful 13 year old, who I specifically said “dont mess with them and stay away” decided while I made dinner, to put on gloves, grab his baseball bat and fling them off the plant… into the grass yard. … that I walk barefoot on. Genius children trying to “help”. lord help me, he didnt get stung, but, well, that was stupid. He comes in the house, “I got the corn!” oye, dude.
Thank you for your help :) better than the help my son tried lmao
Ah, the age when INT starts to touch adult levels, but WIS is still well behind. Hope you’ve got some good closed-toe garden shoes.
Are these actually dangerous? I touched one a few years ago but didn’t think much of it.
yes.
Acharia stimulea is known for having one of the strongest stings and, because the saddleback caterpillar is commonly found in ornamental plants, gardeners are most at risk of accidental exposure. The spines along the caterpillar, when broken, will release an irritating toxin into its victims that is known to cause acute urticaria in humans.[3] These spines are fragile and can become airborne and embedded into surfaces therefore immediate action is required for removal if infected to prevent prolonged harm. Spines can be removed by using adhesive tape over the infected area to pull out the spines, with a new piece of tape used for each treatment.[3][8] Symptoms can be mild or severe and can last from a few hours to a few days depending on the sensitivity of those affected and can be relieved through prescribed medication on a case-by-case basis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleback_caterpillar
I had a very brief brush against one, and this pain lasted about two hours for me, and has now leveled out to dull discomfort.
OP already copied in the info, but yeah, they can be dangerous indeed. On the scale of insect venom, they’re on par with bees and wasps, meaning that not every dosing is going to be dangerous for every person, but the risks can be deadly at the upper end of things, and not solely due to allergic reaction. It’s a fairly painful venom as well, plus those barbs being painful in and of themselves.
The barbs are kinda like the hairs that tarantulas kick off. They irritate the skin, and can cause nasty infections if worst case comes along.
Thing is, the barbs aren’t super fragile (compared to something like tarantula hairs, not to things like bee stings), and they’re what I’ve seen called “evolutionarily expensive”. They cost the critter resources when they break off, and when the venom is released. So it tends not to happen from light contact. So just a light touch probably won’t get you “stung”.
I wouldn’t fuck with one though.
I wish you luck…even if it’s in burning your garden to the ground.
seriously considering it
The Internet seems to say the mantis is a predator for them so hopefully the mantis is hungry.
These look like corruption of reality or a glitch in the matrix
corruption for certain. my new mortal enemy.
I saw one before in a forest, beautiful caterpillar but the spines looked like bad news.
oh wow, that one seems to be transforming. Thats super cool.
Def bad news, not particularly stoked theyve infested the yard.
Living spicy fractal
That weird bug is wearing an adorable sweater and wants a hug.
you first
Do you live in Australia?
How does this Caterpillar Do? (Ze Frank voice)
