We were enjoying afternoon tea in the garden when Andy pointed out a
small caterpillar on my arm. It looked dark and hairy but there was a
yellow strip along the top that looked like a smaller caterpillar taking
a ride. I watched it for a couple of minutes as it wandered around my
arm then put it on the lawn and thought nothing more about it ...
.... until I was getting ready for bed. My arm had strange red scratch marks across it. exactly where the caterpillar had been. Andy said it was a Grey Dagger Moth caterpillar so I looked it up and it turns out those little hairs are full of poison: they break off as it crawls. Be warned ... I was still marked 24 hours later!
New Comers
I shall keep an eye out for that one. Hairy caterpillars may look cute and furry but those hairs often spell trouble.
ReplyDeleteMy nephew stood on a hairy caterpillar a few years back and what a mess it made of the sole of his foot. Taught him not to run about outdoors in bare feet though!
ReplyDeleteI hope the mark doesn't hang around too long.
We have a similarly hairy caterpillar here that causes severe pain if touched. I hope your arm heals soon. :o)
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