Part of the fun about being a kid is picking up and playing with found objects! The sandbox is teeming with neat things to pick up and experiment with, like digging a big, deep hole and collecting rocks along the way. Or, playing in the backyard and uncovering cool-looking leaves or strange little brightly colored bugs; long or short sticks and pieces of bark are fair game as well. Nature is truly an incredible place to make discoveries!
Regardless of all the beauty and wonderful healing nature provides, there are some things you really want to stay away from. I’m not talking about obvious-looking big, slithering snakes or hungry, fierce-looking sharks. Danger can be disguised in many different ways and the one below is a tiny example.
Mom of three, Leslie Howe, was at a local park with her family. Her two toddlers were playing on the jungle gym and she was sitting aside watching them with her baby. Leslie was enjoying the sun when out of the corner of her eye, she caught wind of a strange, furry-looking caterpillar inching along near her and the baby.
This creature looked much different than the caterpillars she was used to seeing. It was hairy, with a curly tail and a wide body. Thankfully, as strange and as cute as it was, Leslie resisted from touching it and urged her kids not to either. It was only when they got home that she learned about the potential dangers of this insect.
It’s called a Puss Caterpillar, named after its thick cat-like fur that resembles the coat of a household cat. What makes the Puss Caterpillar unlike any other insect is its high concentration of venom. They are indigenous to the southeastern states but because they usually reside high up in the trees away from people, they’re rarely seen. They are known to make an appearance on the ground now and again, and it’s their unusual appearance that tempts people to touch them.
But, watch out, their sting isn’t very pleasant. The pain is comparable to a jellyfish or wasp sting. It begins to throb and the pain can shoot up the arm. In rare cases, it can lead to sweating and nausea and a trip to the doctor! This just goes to show that sometimes it’s better to look than to touch!
Click below to watch more about this wild and weird creepy crawly insect.
