第 1036 号，共 1 402 张

Giant silkworm moth caterpillar

Lonomia obliqua

名字的由来： 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

可致命不要触摸不治疗可能会要你的命。如果你碰到它的毛，赶快求助。

毛毛虫和虫子

蜇毛

对人的危险: 非常危险不治疗可能会害死人。

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

生活在

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

首页

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

长度

4.1 cm到6.7 cm (1.6 in到2.6 in)1

最高速度

约 0.03 公里/小时（0.02 英里/小时）

在陆地上, 粗略估计

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.

怎样认出它

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

毒液之力

蜇毛

细小的毛或刚毛会断在皮肤里并刺痛。

它的毒液会造成什么？

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

它对人有多危险？

对人的危险: 非常危险不治疗可能会害死人。

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：医生有药（抗毒血清）或治疗方法。1

它害怕时会做什么？

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

如果你碰到它的毛

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
被毛毛虫的蜇毛扎到：用胶带把毛粘掉，再清洗皮肤。不要揉。
被咬：清洗并冷敷。如果感到不适或容易出血，就去看医生。

一定先拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）。这里是一般急救指导，不是医疗建议。急救基础

注意安全

永远不要摸、抓或逗弄野生动物，即使是很小的，即使它看起来在睡觉或已经死了。
给它留出空间。如果遇到它，保持冷静，慢慢后退，让它走自己的路。
如果你碰到了它的毛：保持冷静，保持不动，拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）或尽快去医院。记住它长什么样，拍张照片会有帮助。

它不是冲着你来的。它用毒液捕猎或保护自己，而且它更愿意躲起来。更多安全知识

在世界哪里？

非洲亚洲欧洲北美洲南美洲澳大利亚和大洋洲

它有多大？

它有多长？

和 2 块玩具积木排成一排一样长比花园蜗牛还慢

Giant silkworm moth caterpillar和你比起来有多大？

只是在你的浏览器里算一算。什么都不会被保存或发送到任何地方。

它有多快？

Giant silkworm moth caterpillar 约 0.03 公里/小时 (0.02 mph)

一只花园蜗牛 约 0.05 公里/小时 (0.03 mph)

一只陆龟 约 0.3 公里/小时 (0.19 mph)

值得了解

事实

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