Fuzzy ‘Puss Caterpillars’ with Venomous Hairs and Stings Spotted in Central Florida

Puss caterpillars with venomous hairs and stings were spotted in Central Florida in recent days. It was spotted by resident Florida man named Joel Mathis told Orlando TV station WOFL that he saw some of the fuzzy caterpillars in the city of Clermont last weekend. While common in Florida, sightings of the hairy caterpillars are relatively rare in the Sunshine State and can be found in other US states.

The caterpillars are the larvae of the adult southern flannel moth (Megalopyge opercularis) or puss moth. It has been perceived as one of the most venomous caterpillars in the US and the most venomous in Florida. M. opercularis belongs to the family Megalopygidae and genus Megalopyge.

While their fluffy hairs are considered adorable, beneath it consists of venomous spines that can be painful or deadly.

Fuzzy Caterpillars

Entomologist Lyle Buss at the University of Florida told Newsweek that the species could be considered the "worst stinging caterpillar" in Florida. The scientist claims of not seeing any of the insects this year even if they are prevalent across the state.

The fuzzy caterpillars undergo different stages of molting and growth before engaging in metamorphosis into their adult form, just like other caterpillar species. During their pre-adulthood, the larvae grow more hairs every time they molt, according to the Entomology and Nematology Department of the University of Florida.

Venomous Hairs and Stings

While the hairs seem cuddly, they are hollow and have a venom gland at their bottom, becoming more toxic as the puss caterpillars grow into maturity.

Most people will experience an intense, painful burning sensation for where they were stung. Yet, only a small percentage of people may incur a more serious allergic response, Buss adds, as cited by Newsweek.

In 2019, a Florida woman told WOFL that she felt the pain was jumping from one area of her body into another.

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech Manager Eric Day told the National Public Radio (NPR), a US-based non-profit organization, that he was also stung by a puss caterpillar when he accidentally brushed up against a tree while mowing his lawn in Virginia.

Day recalls the burning sensation went away after a day or so but he also said of having an inch long blister at the sting site which was visible for several weeks, the NPR reports.

Most Venomous Caterpillars

In the US, the southern flannel moths are found from New Jersey to Florida in the East Coast and Arkansas and Texas in the west, according to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

The foundation confirms that the sighting in Clermont, Florida, is the latest sighting of the hairy caterpillars but states they are common on oak and elm trees during the fall and spring seasons.

The population movement of the puss caterpillars depend on the weather, food availability, and the presence of parasites around them, the Florida organization says.