Made famous by Donald Trump: This cuddly caterpillar is a horror for people
Created: 05/28/2022, 15:17
By: Olaf Kubasik
The caterpillar of the flannel moth looks cute - but it's not at all.
© Screenshot Facebook/Virginia Department of Forestry
The caterpillar of the flannel moth looks like a little cuddly kitten, but in the US this is fatal to many people.
"My God, she's cute!" - that's the first reaction when people discover her.
And their cuddly appearance quickly tempts little animals to want to be petted.
But that should NOT happen despite all the visual temptation.
Because the caterpillar of the "southern flannel moth" is a very, very bad wolf in fluffy sheep's clothing.
Because
Megalopyge opercularis
has a lot more horror in its poison baggage than the highly dangerous larvae of the oak processionary moth.
Even as an adult insect, as
echo24.de
reports.
The southern flannel moth and its relationship to ex-US President Donald Trump
The caterpillar of the southern flannel moth became famous when photos of a yellow variant went around the world.
This had similarities to the hairstyle of ex-US President Donald Trump and gave her the nickname
Trumpapillar
and
Trump Caterpillar
(“Trump Caterpillar”), as various media reports say.
Luckily for everyone in Germany, the fascinatingly beautiful little animal is currently only found in the USA.
However, the industrially caused climate change in the fatal combination of global trade - as with these highly dangerous invasive poisonous spiders - can quickly ensure that the southern flannel moth will also appear in parts of Europe at some point.
And then the little Puschel-Wuschel in this country can also quickly become a nightmare.
Thanks to hellish pain that can lead to death.
kind | Southern flannel moth (Megalopyge opercularis) |
Order | Butterflies (Lepidoptera) |
Happen | United States |
appearance of the caterpillar | similar to a fluffy house cat |
danger to humans | in extreme cases, death from respiratory failure |
Made famous by Donald Trump: cuddly caterpillar from the USA can kill people
In contrast to the caterpillars of the Goldafter, which is native to Germany, those of the southern flannel moth are doubly dangerous, especially for children.
Because the larvae of the domestic cat-like animals invite you to be petted, but at the same time, according to
nationalgeografic.de
, have "small, highly dangerous hair".
In the USA, more and more people end up in the hospital because of this combination.
But not only because of petting, but also because the caterpillars simply fell on them from the trees.
Don Hall describes how bad human contact with the cuddly caterpillar of the flannel moth is: According to the entomologist at the University of Florida, the sting initially feels like a bee sting.
But only very briefly - BECAUSE: "The pain worsens immediately after being stung and can even lead to aching bones." But similar to the bite of an aggressive poisonous spider, hair contact with the caterpillar of
Megalopyge opercularis
goes one step further worse - according to
deintiere.com
these consequences can occur when touched:
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Pain and erythematous spots
headache, nausea and vomiting
Lymph node swelling up to lymphadenitis
state of shock, shortness of breath, death
Donald Trump caterpillar: Again and again a case for hospitals in the USA
Adult southern flannel moths remain a hazard to humans.
However, there is hardly any contact between the adult insects.
But what helps when it's too late?
Entomologist Hall recommends "covering the affected areas with tape and then ripping it off to pull away any hairs that may still be stuck in the skin."
That helps relieve the pain.
deintiere.com
advises, however, to "always plan for medical attention, hospitalization, and even emergency room treatment."