第 1036 號，共 1 402 號

Giant silkworm moth caterpillar

Lonomia obliqua

名字的由來： The scientific name Lonomia obliqua is the name given to this species. The English name 'giant silk moth' refers to the adult moth, which belongs to the family of giant silk moths.1

可能致命不要碰不治療的話可能會害死你。如果你碰到牠的毛，要趕快求救。

毛毛蟲和其他蟲子

會螫人的毛

對人的危險: 非常危險如果沒有治療，牠可能會害死一個人。

This is the caterpillar of a large moth from South America, the giant silk moth. The caterpillar is famous for its venom, which is one of the most dangerous of any caterpillar. It lives in southern Brazil and nearby countries, and it has caused many deaths.1

分布在

Southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná), with recent cases in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais; also Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina1

南美洲

首頁

The species is found in the south of Brazil and nearby countries. People have been stung while handling leafy branches to clear a trail or gather vegetation.1

長度

4,1 cm 到 6,7 cm (1,6 in 到 2,6 in)1

最高速度

大約 0,03 km/h（0,02 mph）

在陸地上, 粗略估計

Giant silkworm moth caterpillar 的照片 — Giant silkworm moth caterpillar。照片：Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Santa Catarina, no known copyright restrictions (public domain)。 Public domain, iNaturalist.

怎麼認出牠

Length of about 4.1 to 6.7 cm1
Background colour ranges from green to brown, which helps it blend in1
Rows of small bumps, each topped with a cluster of easily detached spines of different sizes1

毒液力量

會螫人的毛

細小的毛或刺毛會斷在皮膚裡，造成刺痛。

牠的毒液有什麼作用？

The venom is held in sacs at the base of each spine and flows through the hollow spines into the wound. It causes disseminated intravascular coagulation, which stops the blood from clotting and leads to bleeding into the tissues and internal organs. After an initial phase of headache, fever, vomiting and malaise, a severe bleeding disorder can develop after about 24 hours.1

牠對人有多危險？

對人的危險: 非常危險如果沒有治療，牠可能會害死一個人。

The caterpillar has been responsible for at least 500 deaths. In Brazil, 42,264 accidents were recorded between 2007 and 2017, of which 248 were severe and five were fatal. The reported death rate is 2.5%. Most victims were male (63%), and 45% were between 0 and 21 years old.1

好消息：醫生有藥（抗毒血清）或治療方法。1

牠害怕時會做什麼？

Its body is covered in hairs and spines that break off easily and inject venom into anything that touches them.1

如果你碰到牠的毛

A study by Dr Robert Norris states that stings and abrasions should be treated with antifibrinolytics. If blood products are needed, they must be given with care so they do not worsen the bleeding. An antiserum made by the Butantan Institute in São Paulo reverses the clotting problems, and patients treated with it recover quickly.1
被會螫人的毛毛蟲毛刺到時：用膠帶把毛黏起來，再清洗皮膚。不要搓揉。
被咬時：清洗並冷敷。如果傷者覺得不舒服或容易流血，要就醫。

一定要先打緊急電話（112、000、911）。這是一般急救指引，不是醫療建議。急救基本知識

注意安全

絕對不要碰、抓或捉弄野生動物，就算是很小的動物，就算牠看起來在睡覺或已經死了也一樣。
給牠空間。如果遇到了，保持冷靜，慢慢往後退，讓牠自己離開。
如果你碰到牠的毛：保持冷靜，保持不動，打緊急電話（112、000、911）或趕快去醫院。記住牠的樣子，有照片會很有幫助。

牠不是想來抓你。牠用毒液來捕捉食物或保護自己，而且牠更想躲起來。更多安全知識

在世界上的哪裡？

非洲亞洲歐洲北美洲南美洲澳洲與大洋洲

牠有多大？

牠有多長？

跟 2 塊玩具積木排成一排一樣長比花園蝸牛還慢

Giant silkworm moth caterpillar 跟「你」比起來有多大？

只是在你的瀏覽器裡做算術。什麼都不會儲存，也不會傳送到任何地方。

牠有多快？

Giant silkworm moth caterpillar 大約 0,03 km/h (0,02 mph)

一隻花園蝸牛 大約 0,05 km/h (0,03 mph)

一隻陸龜 大約 0,3 km/h (0,19 mph)

值得知道

小知識

Guinness World Records lists it as the most venomous caterpillar in the world.1

Before studies of Lonomia caterpillars, it was not known that caterpillars could produce enough toxin to kill a person.1

Its venom contains anti-clotting agents that have been studied for possible medical uses, including a component called Lopap.1

The first known epidemic happened in an farming community in Rio Grande do Sul, where victims had only handled leafy branches before their symptoms began.1

Only two of the 26 Lonomia species found in the Americas, L. obliqua and L. achelous, have caused severe reactions.1