A: Your caterpillar is called a puss moth caterpillar. The southern flannel moth, Megalopyge opercularis is an attractive small moth best known because of its larva, the puss caterpillar. The genus name Megalopyge are derived from the Greek roots Megalo (large) and pygidium (rump)—probably because of the shape of the caterpillars. In north central Florida, puss caterpillars are most common on various species of oaks but are also common on elms – including both native species and the exotic Chinese elm. Young larvae feed by skeletonizing leaves and later eat small holes in the leaves.
This caterpillar is one of the most venomous caterpillars in the United States. The venomous spines of puss caterpillars are hollow and each is equipped with a venom gland at its base. In Texas, they have been so numerous in some years that schools in San Antonio in 1923 and Galveston in 1951 were closed temporarily because of stings to children.It was reported in 1922 by Dr. Foot different severity to stings between people depending on the thickness of the skin where the sting occurred. The sting produces an immediate intense burning pain followed by the appearance of a red grid-like pattern on the skin matching the pattern of the venomous spines on the caterpillar. In addition to the characteristic localized symptoms, more general systemic manifestations may also occur including headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, seizures and more rarely, abdominal pain, muscle spasms, swelling of the lymph nodes and convulsions.
Eagleman (2008) has reviewed common treatments for puss caterpillar stings. Remedies that may be helpful in some cases include removing broken spine tips from the skin with tape, applying ice packs, use of oral antihistamine, application of hydrocortisone cream to the site of the sting, systemic corticosteroids, and intravenous calcium gluconate. The caterpillar does have natural enemies such as the tachinid fly, Hyposoter fugitivus, Lanugo retentor and Hyposotor fugitivus all of which are predatory wasps. In most years, puss caterpillars are kept under control by natural enemies. If control measures are required, chemical insecticide or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) applications recommended for control of other caterpillars should be effective. For more complete information, please read the University of Florida publication: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in976
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