Puss Caterpillar & Joint Pain
The puss caterpillar is an unimposing-looking insect. However, the soft, furry outer covering hides poisonous spikes that can cause pain and irritation if you get poked by them. With a rising number of incidents in the southeastern United States and a large, dangerous catalog of side-effects from being bitten by the caterpillar--such as joint pain and nausea--you should be aware of the risks.
Other People Are Reading
-
About Puss Caterpillars
-
Puss caterpillars are one of nature's most interesting and exotic insects, while also being a poisonous foe for anyone who comes in contact with it. Megalopyge opercularis, the scientific name for this bug, has many other common names as well--southern flannel moth, tree asp or pussy moth. Both forms--moth and larval--are covered in long fur-like setae, which resemble the fur of a cat. At its largest, it grows to 1 inch long and is teardrop shaped, resembling a tuft of cotton or fur.
Location
-
These caterpillars eat the leaves of many trees--from apple to birch to oak--and so are well-equipped to live in much of the United States. They can be found from northern Maryland to southern Florida and west to Texas. Because of their versatile eating habits, these caterpillars may infest parks, homes or schools.
-
Stings or Bites
-
The puss caterpillars can cause a health risk if they are allowed to come into contact with human skin. Beneath the hairs are housed hidden tubular spines. These short, sharp and hollow spines are used for defense against predators. Each hollow spine is connected to a poisonous gland in the caterpillar's body. Poison is released when the spine penetrates the skin. According to David M. Eagleman, professor of neuroscience at the Baylor College of Medicine, 188 reports of puss caterpillar stings or bites were reported as of 2007. A vast number more are likely due to the fact that medical attention often is not sought.
Symptoms
-
Within the first five minutes of a bite or sting, a throbbing pain may occur within the region of contact. This reaction is sometimes localized but can radiate upward through the stung limb, causing more pain in the joints (such as the armpit and shoulder if bitten on the arm). Burning, blisters, rashes, abdominal distress, headaches and nausea are also common symptoms. Joint pain, or a stinging and burning sensation, is the most common side effect, however, and more likely to occur even if others don't present themselves.
Treatment
-
Once stung by the puss caterpillar, medical treatment may be sought if the pain doesn't subside. It is best, however, if the sting is treated within the first two hours of contact. One should immediately try to remove the spines from the affected skin, and many people have had success in doing so by applying cellophane tape to the area and pulling out the spines by removing the tape. Ice packs can be applied to the site to reduce swelling, and oral antihistamines can be taken to relieve burning and itching. Other people have reported varying degrees of relief from baking soda, hydrocortisone cream, juice from the stems of comfrey plants and calamine lotion, according to Eagleman. For more severe joint or inflammation pain, doctors sometimes prescribe Demerol, morphine or codeine.
-
