第 1038 號，共 1 402 號

Puss caterpillar

Megalopyge opercularis

名字的由來： The name "puss" probably comes from the caterpillar's soft, long fur, which makes it look like a tiny Persian cat.1

只是會痛不要碰會痛，但不會對你造成嚴重傷害。

毛毛蟲和其他蟲子

會螫人的毛

對人的危險: 疼痛可能會非常痛，但幾乎從來不會很嚴重。

The puss caterpillar is a furry caterpillar that grows into a moth. It lives in the southern and eastern United States, Mexico and parts of Central and South America. Its hairs contain venomous spines that can cause a very painful skin reaction, so it is important to recognise it and leave it alone.1

分布在

Eastern United States (southeastern Virginia to Florida), southern United States, Mexico, parts of Central and South America1

北美洲

首頁

It is found on oak, elm and wild plum trees, and on garden plants such as roses and ivy. People can meet it in these gardens and trees.1

長度

2,5 cm (1 in)1

最高速度

大約 0,03 km/h（0,02 mph）

在陸地上, 粗略估計

Puss caterpillar 的照片 — Puss caterpillar。照片：Patrick Coin (Patrick Coin)。 CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons.

怎麼認出牠

The larva is about one inch (2.5 cm) long and covered in long, hair-like fur.1
Its fur can be grey-white, golden brown or dark charcoal grey.1
It often has a bright orange streak running along its body.1
In the early stage, the body tapers to a tail that extends well beyond the body.1
The adult moth has long fur in colours from dull orange to lemon yellow, with hairy legs and fuzzy black feet.1

常被誤認為： Its relative M. crispata is mentioned as different because its tail does not extend well beyond the body, unlike the puss caterpillar's. The middle stage of the puss caterpillar has no distinct tail at all.1

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 caterpillar's fur contains venomous spines. Contact causes an immediate skin reaction with a grid-like rash and severe radiating pain. Victims often describe the pain as like a broken bone, blunt-force trauma or white hot. The pain can spread up a limb and cause burning, swelling, nausea, headache, stomach pain, rashes, blisters, and sometimes chest pain, numbness or difficulty breathing.1

牠對人有多危險？

對人的危險: 疼痛可能會非常痛，但幾乎從來不會很嚴重。

The caterpillar is regarded as a dangerous insect because of its venomous spines. Reactions are sometimes limited to the sting site but are often very severe. The sting causes a condition called urticarial dermatitis or erucism, and M. opercularis is the most commonly reported source of this in the United States.1

如果你碰到牠的毛

The venom is best treated within hours of first contact. Any spines still in the skin should be removed with cellophane tape. Remedies reported to have varying degrees of success include ice packs, oral antihistamine, baking soda, hydrocortisone cream, juice from comfrey stems and calamine lotion.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？

大約跟一根迴紋針一樣長比花園蝸牛還慢

Puss 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？

Puss 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

Victims often say the pain feels like a broken bone, or even white hot.1

The name "puss" probably comes from the caterpillar's fur, which looks like a tiny Persian cat.1

Its spines can cause a condition called urticarial dermatitis, also known as erucism.1

Early-stage larvae can have very curly fur that looks cottony and puffed up.1

Late larvae can spend the whole winter inside their cocoon before emerging in spring.1

給毒液專家

學名: Megalopyge opercularis
類群: 毛毛蟲和其他蟲子
家人: Megalopygidae2
排序: Lepidoptera
各大洲: 北美洲
寶寶: The caterpillar has two broods a year, one in summer and one in autumn. Late larvae may stay in their cocoon all winter and emerge as adults in late spring.1
對人的危險: 2 / 5: 疼痛3