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The cuddly caterpillar looks cute - but for humans it is the horror

2022-06-01T13:40:02.568Z


The cuddly caterpillar looks cute - but for humans it is the horror Created: 06/01/2022, 15:30 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 rea


The cuddly caterpillar looks cute - but for humans it is the horror

Created: 06/01/2022, 15:30

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.

In contrast to the extremely dangerous larvae of the oak processionary moth,

Megalopyge opercularis

has a lot more horror in its poison baggage.

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 arrest

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."

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2022-06-01

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