Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Lonomia obliqua is a species of saturniid moth ("giant silk moth") from South America. [1] It is famous for its larval form, rather than the adult moth, primarily because of the caterpillar's defense mechanism, urticating bristles that inject a potentially deadly venom.
Lonomia sp.. The genus Lonomia is a moderate-sized group of fairly cryptic saturniid moths from South America, famous not for the adults, but for their highly venomous caterpillars, which are responsible for a few deaths each year, [1] especially in southern Brazil, and the subject of hundreds of published medical studies.
Effects from the poisonous bristles under their fur have been compared with a wasp or jellyfish sting. The Initial symptom of being stung by a puss caterpillar is usually just a painful skin ...
The caterpillar has been reported to cause irritation to humans. [1] [2] [3] Like all limacodids, the legs are shortened and the prolegs are reduced to suction cups. The "arms" or tubercles can fall off without harming the caterpillar, aiding the larva in defense. The larvae are 1.5–2.5 centimetres (0.59–0.98 in) in length. [1] [2]
The gypsy moth caterpillar has been reported to produce a poison ivy like rash when some people come into contact with the hairs of the larvae (caterpillar) stage. The contact can be direct or even indirect, if the small hairs are carried by the wind and onto the skin or clothing of a person.
These toxic species, such as the cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) and monarch (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars, usually advertise themselves with the danger colors of red, yellow and black, often in bright stripes (see aposematism). Any predator that attempts to eat a caterpillar with an aggressive defense mechanism will learn and avoid future ...
Orgyia leucostigma, the white-marked tussock moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae.The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797. The caterpillar is very common especially in late summer in eastern North America, extending as far west as Texas, California, and Alberta.
The bright colours of both the larvae and the moths act as warning signs, so they are seldom eaten by predators. An exception is among different species of cuckoo which eat hairy and poisonous caterpillars including cinnabar moth larvae. [3] Females can lay up to 300 eggs, usually in batches of 30 to 60 on the underside of ragwort leaves.