Caterpillars are the larval stagee of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). It is generally crawly, harmless creatures that we can esily ignore.
But not this caterpillar called Lonomia obliqua found primarily in Brazil. It has a body covered with what looks like miniature trees and can make a person bleed to death just through contact. Each of the spiky branches on this caterpillar’s body is coated with deadly venom that enters a person’s bloodstream and can cause excessive clotting.
It is frequently seen in accident with human especially in the south of Brazil. Patients develop a hemorrhagic syndrome that can be treated with specific antilonomic serum.
Symptoms include bruising, swelling, pain, headache, and vomiting. After a day or two, a person will run out of blood platelets, which will eventually lead to death. The bleeding is all internal since there are no exterior wounds in the body. Research is still ongoing to find an antidote to this fatal poison.
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