Tag Archives: stinging caterpillar

Asp a.k.a. puss caterpillars

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These have been a hot news item lately in Central Texas.  I did a news interview & Facebook Live broadcast yesterday to talk about them. While these teardrop shaped caterpillars look soft and touchable, they are NOT! Asps have spines attached to venom glands that can lead to a nasty sting, rash, and other issues. Some people may have a more severe reaction than others and where you are stung (thickness of the skin) can effect things. You can read my previous post on asps HERE. KVUE story… Read More →

Caterpillars- buck moth caterpillar, cankerworms and tent caterpillars

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The insects seemingly have arrived in our demogarden the past week. I was out there with Master gardeners this morning and there was a lot to see….it makes me EXCITED (the Master Gardeners, not so much, as many of the insects are eating the plants they are tending so carefully). So two items have already been covered recently in blog posts written by Dr. Mike Merchant in Dallas, so I’m going to direct to those pages and you can get all your information there. First are the tent… Read More →

Asp caterpillars

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I’ve been hearing reports of people being stung by asps (puss caterpillars). The larva is the problematic stage for this insect as the caterpillars often fall out of trees and land on unsuspecting people below. When this happens, the person may get stung. The caterpillar has venomous spines which can cause a varying reaction. There are some people who react more severely to the toxin than others. The severity of the sting can also depend upon the thickness of the skin where the sting occurs. Often stings will… Read More →