• In case most of you have not noticed, I made changes to the donation amounts as well as the durations for all of the paid membership levels. Things are winding down here, and this seems to be the most prudent way to deal with the "end of life" period of this site.

    Contributor level members - $10 per 30 days
    Sponsors - Eliminated
    Benefactor level members - $25 per 30 days
    Endowment level members - $50 per 30 days

    Account Upgrades Page
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Cute little fuzzy caterpillar

WebSlave

WebSlave

The sunset is coming.
Staff member
Staff
Joined
Feb 3, 2002
Messages
20,593
Reaction score
887
Points
113
Location
Crawfordville, FL
Man, this thing looked so fuzzy and cuddly, I just wanted to pick it up and hug it.......


puss_caterpillar_2018_01.jpg



puss_caterpillar_2018_02.jpg



puss_caterpillar_2018_03.jpg



Yeah, I know.... I would have REALLY regretted doing that. For those of you who might not know what this is, it is a Puss Caterpillar. Considered to be the most venomous caterpillar in the USA.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/09/toupee-caterpillar-venomous-animal-weird-insect/
 
What should be setting off alarm bells are all the bristles around the head in that third pic. THOSE are what will really hurt!

Hope I don't see more of these in the citrus trees. Sure wouldn't want Connie or myself to get zapped by one of these by just not seeing it on the underside of a leaf while we are picking fruits off of the trees. It would be yet another piece of mother nature that I won't be real happy about.
 
Thick... gardening... gloves.

What does this guy turn into, and when - is there a season, after which you would be safe?

(Quick Google Search shows it's a current problem in Florida...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poisonous-caterpillar-sting-sends-florida-boy-to-the-er-mom-warns/)

"In Florida, there are two generations of puss caterpillars a year, one in spring and the other in fall. Last year, the Florida Poison Centers got 393 calls about people stung by caterpillars, JoAnn Chambers-Emerson, an educator at the Florida Poison Information Center in Tampa, told CBS News.

The caterpillars are most often found on oak and citrus trees. But as Staggs discovered, these "crazy critters" can be just about anywhere.

If you believe you have been stung by a puss caterpillar, don't panic. The Poison Center of Tampa has some recommended steps to take.

"Place Scotch tape over the affected area and strip off repeatedly to remove spines. Apply ice packs to reduce the stinging sensation, and follow with a paste of baking soda and water," the poison control center wrote in a statement online. "If the victim has a history of hay fever, asthma or allergy, or if allergic reactions develop, contact a physician immediately."
 
I got nailed by one of those climbing a tree in Orlando back in early 70's and I still remember it!
 
Back
Top