If you ’ve ever been in the Wood and spotted what looks like a wigging on the move , you might ’ve seen a snatch caterpillar ( Megalopyge opercularis ) . These infamous floofs are so named for their alikeness to a big downlike cat and finally transform into an equally fuzzy moth . While its abundance of fur might look ripe for a hugging , touching these guys is a in earnest bad thought as beneath that shaggy coat lies an arsenal of venomous back , earning them the title of Most Dangerous Caterpillar in the US .
Now , it appears the forbidden floofs areinvading Virginiaas a boom in sightings of these normally rare - to - the - region caterpillars is leading experts to suspect they may be in the midst of an eruption . As if we did n’t already have enough of those this year .
About an inch long , nature ’s toupee come in all varieties with some sporting square pilus while others have waves , all in a cooking stove of hues include brown , gray-haired , and livid . Its appearance shift with its liveliness round , see most voluminous as an early - stage larva and descend into more of a lockdown tough hair 24-hour interval around the mediate instar stage . Whilst it may come out to have all the attributes of a shining false hair ( this oneappears to be sat atopDonald Trump ’s head ) , the “ fur ” on these beasties is stuffed full of virulent spines that touch off unspeakable reactions when they come into link with human skin .
Puss Caterpillar and their resulting moth are n’t usually found in Virginia , being more common in areas such as Florida , Missouri , and Texas , but allot to aFacebook postfrom the Virginia Department of Forestry ( VDOF ) there have been multiple sightings .
" # SocialDistance away from this caterpillar ! " they monish in the post .
" VDOF ’s woodland health squad has receive reports of the ichor caterpillar in a few eastern Virginia counties … If you find the cat , leave behind it alone and let its rude enemies insure their populations — there are a number of other insects that will prey on them at unlike stage of their aliveness cycle . "
Symptoms from striking with a puss cat can range from mild to severe , with coarse ailment including localize swelling , vomiting , and febricity . In extreme stipulation , a hefty dose of the caterpillar ’s venom can lead to stupor , which can be fatal if left untreated . The VDOF hopes that the born predators of these unsafe critter might be enough to cut back the outbreak , but if reports of injury become more frequent it may mean that more proactive intervention is necessitate .
So , if you ’re out take the air , please do n’t get caught by the fuzz . Some things in life areso fluffy you could really die .
