Over the centuries, humans have developed the instinct and, above all, the knowledge to know which animals and other creatures to stay away from. While most wild animals are completely harmless to us humans, it’s important to be vigilant when out in the wild.
That’s what Leslie Howe’s mother did when she and her family were in a small park. So far, it’s been a normal day for the kids – but then she saw a strange furball-shaped shape, USA Today reported.
Over the centuries, humans have developed the instinct and, above all, the knowledge to know which animals and other creatures to stay away from. While most wild animals are completely harmless to us humans, it’s important to be vigilant when in the wild.
That’s what Leslie Howe’s mother did when she and her family were in a small park.
Back in 2014, Leslie, a mother from Georgia, discovered something strange near her children at the local playground.
So far, it’s been a normal day for the kids – but then Leslie spotted a strange, furry ball-shaped creature, USA Today reported. The mother fulfills her instincts. And that turns out to be a very good decision.
“It feels like being stung by a wasp, but it’s worse” Leslie was at a park in Gwinnett County, Georgia, with her baby and two other young children when the “furball” caught her attention. He was small and seemed modest and harmless at first glance, but she instinctively felt the need to stay away. Although this story was first published a few years ago, it has once again gone viral on the Internet to warn all American parents of the dangers.
What lies beneath the fur is truly dangerous, and from that day on, Leslie hopes her story can help warn others to stay away from a suspicious ball of fur: the larvae of Megalopyga Opercularis, aka. the cat caterpillar.
The name probably refers to the caterpillar’s resemblance to a cat’s soft fur. But despite its harmless appearance, this insect contains a poison that it can inject. It is covered with fur that hides poisonous feathers.
These larvae, which can grow to a little over an inch in length, are found throughout the United States. According to tօ NPR, they can be found “feeding on leaves in states between New Jersey and Florida and as far west as Texas.”
Cat caterpillar stings are brutal and should not be touched under any circumstances. That way, they can stick to you and inject you with venom.
“It feels like being stung by a wasp, but worse. The pain is immediate and gets worse after the creature hits you and can even damage your bones. Severity. The severity of the bite depends on where it’s stuck and how deep the punctures are in your skin. People who put it on their hands say they feel pain up to their shoulder and the pain lasts up to twelve hours.” ethnographer Don Hall told National Geographic, Expressen reported.
Eric Day, director of Virginia Tech’s Insect ID La, certainly felt the pain of being stung by a caterpillar. While mowing his lawn at his home in rural Virginia, he bumped into a tree and was stung by a trapped caterpillar.
“The burning sensation disappeared after a day or two, but the blistering and then an area of irritation were visible for several weeks,” he recalls.
If stung by this caterpillar, you should use tape to remove poisonous hair and then wash gently with soap and water. According to the National Capital Poison Center, you can also use hydrocortisone cream or baking soda on the area if the sting starts to itch. If it gets worse, get medical help.
Caterpillars are rarely fatal, but stings can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Take a look at the unusual and mysterious caterpillar:
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education