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A bizarre small insect, such as a venomous pus from walking and looking vertebrates, threatens Virginia this year, according to the state Forest Department (VDoF).
The venomous pus caterpillar is the larval form of the southern flannel moth (Mycologize auricularis), And if you find one you should stay away from it. Its “hairs” are actually vertebrates, making it one of the most venomous caterpillars in the United States. A woman in New Kent County described what happened to “a very hot knife on the outside of my calf” when she brushed against someone in the doorway of her car. According to Daily Progress.
Puss caterpillars have previously appeared in Virginia, according to the VDOF. They are found as far north as New Jersey. But they are most common in Florida and much larger in West-Central Texas University of Florida. Eric Day, manager of the Insect Identification Laboratory in Virginia Tech, told the Daily Progress that this appears to be the “eruption year.”
Related: Meet the colorful night moths of ‘Mariphos Nights’ (photos)
Climate change The weather in Virginia is warmer because it covers most of the country.
“With changes in our climate, we see some insects changing their numbers,” said Theresa Tellinger, another researcher at the same laboratory. CNN. “But it must be said very soon. Caterpillars, moths and butterflies all have cyclical periods, which are about the right time and the right conditions.”
According to CNN, caterpillar venom is similar to bee stings, which can cause bad reactions to pus caterpillars in people with severe allergic reactions to bees.
Published by Virginia Tech a Document What to do if “stabbed” by a poisonous caterpillar. Important Steps: Wash the area to get rid of residual hairs or harmful substances. Place the tape on that area and then tear it off to pull out the hairs embedded in the skin. (Do this a few times, but use a new piece of tape each time.) Ice cubes and steroid creams reduce inflammation and make the sting less painful. Anyone who has had a bad reaction to insects in the past or has been stabbed near the eyes should contact a doctor immediately.
CNN reports that the plan is to allow natural predators of caterpillars to shrink their population in the state, but if they continue to spread unchecked, the state could launch an eradication program.
First published in Live Science.
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