Post by BuckMaster on Aug 30, 2007 20:04:11 GMT -5
The previous thread about Horse Hornets got me thinking about BAD BUGS, one in particular - THE SADDELBACK CATERPILLAR!!!!!!!
Now that we are all heading into the woods for some pre-season scouting many of us have or will most likely run into this nasty Little thing. I HAVE..MORE THAN ONCE!!!!!
Three summers in a row I can remember walking through some thick underbrush and then all of a sudden feeling like a HOT COAL was stuck to my ARM, NECK, and LEG. I would run really fast out of the thick brush thinking that I got stung by a million Hornets in the same place!!!! I never knew what it was because I never saw anything...because I would always run my butt out of there. All I knew was it had something to do with walking through thick green under brush during the summer.
Until last year when my buddy and I were on my 4x4 heading through some thick stuff and I hear AHHHHHHHH!!!!! STOP! STOP! I turn to look at my friend and I see that there is this thing on his arm. He didn't knock it off his arm because he wanted me to look at it to see if it was poisonous or not (not that I would have known). I went home and tried to find a picture of it on line to see what the hell it was because he had the same reactions to it that I did THREE TIMES BEFORE. Because he left it on his arm longer than he needed to he got more of the poison from it.He said it hurt so bad that he ended up going to the hospital that afternoon to have it check out. He said his arm was numb feeling for two days.....
If that isn't crazy enough, after I found out what the hell it was I asked Hardcorehunter if he had ever seen one while in the woods and he replied NEVER........
Later that night I get a call from Hardcore and he says "You're not going to believe this" He told me that as he was setting up his latter stand that afternoon he got the BIG sting 20ft up in a tree. His arm brushed along one of those crazy ass things and he got stung! So he decided to put it on a stick and go get his brother with it ;D
So anyone else ever had the misfortune of running into one of these???
Saddleback Caterpillar
SIZE: 1 inch (25 mm)
COLOR: Purplish-brown body with a purplish saddle shape on its green back.
DESCRIPTION: The saddleback caterpillar is about an inch long, and has poisonous spines on four large projections (tubercles) and many smaller ones that stick out from the sides of its body. The "saddle" consists of an oval purplish-brown spot in the middle of a green patch on the back. Saddleback caterpillars feed on the leaves of basswood, chestnut, cherry, plum, oak, and other trees and shrubs.
HABITAT: The saddleback caterpillar is a general feeder and is generally found on shade trees and ornamental shrubs in late summer.
LIFE CYCLE: Adults tend to take flight in mid-summer.
TYPE OF DAMAGE: The poisonous hairs or spins are hollow and connected to underlying poison glands. Contact with them causes a burning sensation and inflammation that can be as painful as a bee sting. The irritation can last for a day or two and may be accompanied by nausea during the first few hours. Usually the site of contact reddens and swells much like a bee sting.
CONTROL: A person "stung" by a poisonous caterpillar should immediately wash the affected area to remove any insect hairs and poison that remain. An ice pack will help reduce swelling, and creams and lotions containing steroids will lessen the discomfort and promote healing. Persons known to be sensitive to insect stings should consult a physician. Stinging caterpillars rarely occur in sufficient numbers to be considered plant pests, but people who work with ornamental plants should learn to recognize them and avoid touching them.
Now that we are all heading into the woods for some pre-season scouting many of us have or will most likely run into this nasty Little thing. I HAVE..MORE THAN ONCE!!!!!
Three summers in a row I can remember walking through some thick underbrush and then all of a sudden feeling like a HOT COAL was stuck to my ARM, NECK, and LEG. I would run really fast out of the thick brush thinking that I got stung by a million Hornets in the same place!!!! I never knew what it was because I never saw anything...because I would always run my butt out of there. All I knew was it had something to do with walking through thick green under brush during the summer.
Until last year when my buddy and I were on my 4x4 heading through some thick stuff and I hear AHHHHHHHH!!!!! STOP! STOP! I turn to look at my friend and I see that there is this thing on his arm. He didn't knock it off his arm because he wanted me to look at it to see if it was poisonous or not (not that I would have known). I went home and tried to find a picture of it on line to see what the hell it was because he had the same reactions to it that I did THREE TIMES BEFORE. Because he left it on his arm longer than he needed to he got more of the poison from it.He said it hurt so bad that he ended up going to the hospital that afternoon to have it check out. He said his arm was numb feeling for two days.....
If that isn't crazy enough, after I found out what the hell it was I asked Hardcorehunter if he had ever seen one while in the woods and he replied NEVER........
Later that night I get a call from Hardcore and he says "You're not going to believe this" He told me that as he was setting up his latter stand that afternoon he got the BIG sting 20ft up in a tree. His arm brushed along one of those crazy ass things and he got stung! So he decided to put it on a stick and go get his brother with it ;D
So anyone else ever had the misfortune of running into one of these???
Saddleback Caterpillar
SIZE: 1 inch (25 mm)
COLOR: Purplish-brown body with a purplish saddle shape on its green back.
DESCRIPTION: The saddleback caterpillar is about an inch long, and has poisonous spines on four large projections (tubercles) and many smaller ones that stick out from the sides of its body. The "saddle" consists of an oval purplish-brown spot in the middle of a green patch on the back. Saddleback caterpillars feed on the leaves of basswood, chestnut, cherry, plum, oak, and other trees and shrubs.
HABITAT: The saddleback caterpillar is a general feeder and is generally found on shade trees and ornamental shrubs in late summer.
LIFE CYCLE: Adults tend to take flight in mid-summer.
TYPE OF DAMAGE: The poisonous hairs or spins are hollow and connected to underlying poison glands. Contact with them causes a burning sensation and inflammation that can be as painful as a bee sting. The irritation can last for a day or two and may be accompanied by nausea during the first few hours. Usually the site of contact reddens and swells much like a bee sting.
CONTROL: A person "stung" by a poisonous caterpillar should immediately wash the affected area to remove any insect hairs and poison that remain. An ice pack will help reduce swelling, and creams and lotions containing steroids will lessen the discomfort and promote healing. Persons known to be sensitive to insect stings should consult a physician. Stinging caterpillars rarely occur in sufficient numbers to be considered plant pests, but people who work with ornamental plants should learn to recognize them and avoid touching them.
