Saddleback caterpillar
The saddleback caterpillar is the larva of a moth found in eastern North America and Mexico. It is green with a brown saddle-shaped marking on its back, and its spiny hairs can cause a painful rash. Gardeners who handle plants where it lives are most at risk of contact.1

Akkaataa itti beekamu
- Primarily lime-green, with brown at both ends.1
- A dark brown centre marking, outlined in white and black, that looks like a saddle.1
- A pair of fleshy horns, called tentacles, at each end of the body, which are orange or black as the caterpillar grows.1
- Tufts of spines along the body, with a row of orange spines along the sides.1
- Some larvae have a false face at the rear, with two pale dots that look like large eyes.1
Humna summii
Rifeensi ykn qoccoon xixiqqoon gogaa keessatti cabanii iddu.
Summiin isaa (ciniinnaa ykn iddiin) maal godha?
The hairs and spines contain an irritating venom that is released when they touch skin or are broken. Contact causes a painful, swollen rash and sometimes nausea. Severe reactions are possible and can include migraines, breathing trouble related to asthma, anaphylactic shock (a dangerous allergic reaction) and bleeding. Symptoms can last from a few hours to a few days, depending on how sensitive a person is.1
Namootaaf hammam balaa qaba?
Balaa namootaaf: Ni dhukkubsaBaay'ee dhukkubsuu danda'a, garuu gonkumaa jechuun ni danda'ama cimaa hin ta'u.This caterpillar has one of the strongest stings of its kind. Gardeners are most at risk because the caterpillar is common on ornamental plants. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and the sensitivity of the person affected makes a difference.1
Oduu gaarii: doktoroonni qoricha (qoricha farra summii, antivenom) ykn yaalii kanaaf qabu.1
Yeroo sodaatu maal godha?
When threatened, the larva curls outwards so its spines are hard for a predator to avoid, and its bright colours warn of its toxicity.1
Yoo rifeensa isaa tuqxe
- Remove the spines from the skin immediately using adhesive tape over the affected area, with a new piece of tape for each treatment, to stop the venom spreading. Ice packs, corticosteroids and antihistamines (taken orally or applied to the skin) have been reported to help relieve pain. Symptoms are relieved with prescribed medication on a case-by-case basis.1
- Rifeensa raammoo iddu irratti: teeppii maxxanaatiin kaasi, sana booda gogaa dhiqi. Hin sukkuumin.
- Ciniinnaaf: dhiqi fi qabbaneessi. Yoo namichi dhukkubsate ykn salphaatti dhiigni isa ba'e, gargaarsa yaalaa argadhu.
Yeroo hunda dursa lakkoofsa balaa tasaa kee bilbili (112, 000, 911). Kun qajeelfama gargaarsa jalqabaa waliigalaa ti, gorsa yaalaa miti. Bu'uura gargaarsa jalqabaa
Nageenyaan turi
- Bineensa bosonaa gonkumaa hin tuqin, hin qabin, hin tuttuqin, xiqqaa ta'us, rafe ykn du'e fakkaatus.
- Iddoo itti kenni. Yoo tokko wajjin wal argite, tasgabbaa'i, suuta duubatti deebi'iitii karaa isaa akka deemu dhiisi.
- Yoo rifeensa isaa tuqxe: tasgabbaa'i, sochii malee turi, lakkoofsa balaa tasaa kee (112, 000, 911) bilbili ykn dafii hospitaala ga'i. Maal akka fakkaatu yaadadhu, suuraan ni gargaara.
Si miidhuuf si hin barbaadu. Summii isaa nyaata qabachuuf ykn of eeguuf fayyadama, dhokachuu immoo baay'ee filata. Waa'ee nageenyaa dabalataan
Addunyaa keessaa eessatti?
Hammam guddaa dha?
Dheerinni isaa hammam?
gara dheerina kilippii waraqaa
qocaa iddoo biqiltuu caalaa suuta deemaSaddleback caterpillar SI wajjin yoo wal bira qabamu hammam guddaa dha?
Herrega qofa barsiisaa kee keessatti. Homtuu hin olkaa'amu, eessayyuu hin ergamu.
Hammam ariifata?
Dhugaawwan
The false face on the rear end is thought to confuse predators, which may attack the wrong end.1
Its cocoon is made of silk mixed with its stinging spines, which protect the pupa during metamorphosis.1
Braconid wasps often lay their eggs inside these caterpillars, and the wasp larvae feed from the inside and later emerge through holes in the body.1
Like other slug caterpillars, it moves on suckers and mucus, which help it roll and stick to surfaces.1
The adult moth has no sting and lives about 10 days on average.1
The adult moth loses the caterpillar's bright colours and has velvety dark brown forewings and cream hindwings.1
Dhugaawwan eessaa dhufu
- Saddleback caterpillar (Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0))
- Acharia stimulea (iNaturalist): maqaa fi ramaddii.
- Venom Wiki: sadarkaan balaa, guddinni idilee fi tilmaamni ariitii kan keenya. Akkamitti akka hojjennu ilaali: Balaa akkamitti madaalla.
Dhugaan fuula kana irra jiru hundi lakkoofsa madda isaatti si qajeelchu qaba. Yoo waan tokko dogoggorre, dhiifama, nuti jaallattoota bineensotaa ti malee joornaalii saayinsii miti. [email protected] irratti nutti himi, ni sirreessina.
Rifeensa iddu