When I moved to Trinidad, people warned me about the fer de lance and coral snakes, scorpions and centipedes. Nobody told me about poisonous
caterpillars. Yesterday morning, I saw something orange and furry on a twig in the plum tree so I went to get a better look. I reached up for the end of the
limb and slowly pulled the branch down to see it… I didn’t have a chance to touch it before it fell off and barely brushed my fingers on the way down. Intense stinging. I went inside and washed my hand and the pain got worse and worse. Then it radiated up my arm to the glands in my arm pit. I sat down, worrying a little whether I was going to stop breathing or my heart would stop. I tried antihistamine cream, aspirin, ice, etc. and the pain got worse - it wasn’t a sting anymore - just intense pain. The PAIN DID NOT WEAKEN OR DISSAPATE EVEN A LITTLE UNTIL AT LEAST FIVE HOURS LATER. Later that night, my knuckles and elbow still ached and I even had some pain in my legs.
When I described this to Trinidadians, they said, “Oh, it’s a Chinney - you should never touch those.” But when I showed it to people, including people in their 60s who grew up near where I live (in Maraval, in the mountains just outside Port of Spain, Trinidad) no one had ever seen anything like it.
I’ve identified what I think stung me from these websites: Puss Caterpillars Megalopyge opercularis and this one. However these sites describe the North American Puss Caterpillar. They say it ranges in size from 3/4 inch long to 1 1/4 inches long and that “the severity of the sting is more intense, the larger the caterpillar.” The one that got me is at least three inches long and looks something like a moussed and blow-dried hamster. I’d like to hear from any caterpillar experts (Doug?) here about what is known about this variety.
While reading your experience i recalled a story my grandmother told me years ago about her run in with an “asp”, i called her over to the moniter and showed her the pictures on the link provided…we have a postive match! She certainly does NOT look back on the experience fondly and describes the pain as utterly excruciating.
Sorry you had to experience that, but if anyone has any more info on these little buggers please share, my intrest is perked.
That first website I gave you has a section on Puss Caterpillar Encounters. When my friends here read that, they realized I wasn’t exaggerating to get more sympathy.
Nothing cogent to add to the valuable data posted, but given that description, my guess is that it’s the little guys’ revenge for your having left the moderating staff (though not the SDSAB) here.
“Asp” is a name that is used in Florida to Texas, according to that website. Again, MY caterpillar is BIGGER and WORSE than the ones you have there. I still have not found a single Trinidadian who has ever seen one of these before. It’s on my desk at work (in a secure enclosure) and I will let you know as soon as I get it specifically identified.
(Actually I’m haggling with my ex-landlord about giving me back my rental deposit and if he doesn’t give it to me, I’m thinking of dropping it down his shirt.)
Not that this will add significantly to understanding of the situation…but my ex’s late grandfather lived in Trinidad back in the '60s, and owned two pet spider monkeys that he smuggled in from South America. One died after eating a poisonous caterpillar…perhaps it was of the same species as JillGat’s monster?
Unfortunately, as my ex-grandfather-in-law is also no longer with us (not, I am quick to point out, as the result of poisonous caterpillars), I can’t ask him to identify the fatal bug.
There are tons of stinging caterpillars in South America; however, the “moussed hamster” look only applies to a few genera of megalopygids. So, your beastie was probably either a Megalopyge (of a different species than opercularis or any other US type) or a Podalia species.
Yes, you are correct. In fact that is the best way to search for info. on the internet about these things, “Venomous caterpillars.” They are probably also poisonous, but I had a big breakfast so I’m not going to eat it yet.
