If you’re roaming your garden and happen upon a strange caterpillar that vaguely resembles a furry little kitten, look but don’t touch!
Jalisco’s Ministry of Health warns that the puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) has wormed its way into the state, posing a potential medical threat to anyone who comes into contact with the peculiar critter that looks cute but packs a powerful poisonous punch.
The larval form of the flannel moth is known by various other names such as tree asp and the more descriptive Trump caterpillar due its similar appearance to the feisty politician’s comb-over hairdo. In Spanish it’s called the oruga peluche (teddy bear caterpillar).
The bug varies in color during different stages of its life cycle, changing from grayish-white to golden-brown to dark charcoal gray, often with a bright orange streak running along its hairy back. Hidden beneath its luxuriant fur coat are venomous spines that cause extremely painful and neurological reactions upon contact with human skin.
Symptoms of intoxication range from an instant burning sensation localized in the affected area to extreme pain that may radiate up a limb causing rashes, blisters, swelling, numbness, nausea, headache, abdominal distress, and even chest pain or breathing difficulties. Physicians often equate reactions to those provoked by scorpion and jellyfish stings.
For immediate first aid, doctors recommend applying cellophane tape to remove the poisonous spines at the point of contact. Other remedies that may relieve symptoms include ice packs, baking soda, calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, juice from the stems of comfrey plants and oral antihistamines. Seek professional medical care in case of severe reactions.
The puss caterpillar commonly feeds on citrus, oak and elm trees and garden plants such as roses and ivy. Officials are not sure how the noxious bugs got across the United States border, but in recent weeks they have been found in the vicinity of Guadalajara’s woodsy Colomos Park and a number of different locations in the Lake Chapala area.