Butterflies of the World - Lifecycle, Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation, Photography, Butterfly Holidays, Photo Galleries, Book Reviews and more.........
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Frequently Asked Questions PAGE 3    << PREVIOUS | NEXT >>
 
If you have any interesting questions of your own please send me an e-mail and I'll do my best to provide an answer, either personally, or via this page. Click on the links below to see the answers !
 
 
 
Can Hawkmoth caterpillars sting with their horn ?

horn on tail of Privet Hawkmoth caterpillar Sphinx ligustri

All Hawkmoths ( Sphingidae ) throughout the world have caterpillars that are equipped with a horn at the tail end. In some species it is short and may be curled like a pig's tail, while in others it can be extremely long - almost as long as the caterpillar itself !
These horns look sharp and dangerous but are in fact quite soft to touch. They cannot sting and are entirely harmless. The purpose of the horns is apparently unknown and would make a fascinating subject for a scientific study.
Although the horns are harmless, there are many other types of caterpillar, especially in the neotropics, which can sting. Some are quite dangerous and can cause very painful swelling, and there are even a few species which can kill.
An example is the Saturniid moth Lonomia obliqua, the caterpillars of which are often found clustered in groups of up to 100 on the trunks of trees in the rainforests of Brazil. A typical incident might involve someone unknowingly leaning against, placing their hand on, or rubbing their arm against a group of these caterpillars that are gathered on a tree trunk. The effects of a dose from multiple caterpillars can be dramatic and very severe, including massive internal hemorrhaging, kidney failure, and actual destruction of the blood itself. The rate of human fatality has been documented as 1.7%, compared to a rate for rattlesnakes at about 1.8%, despite the fact that the amount of venom is only a minute fraction (less than 0.001) of the amount in a snake bite.
the highly venomous larva of Lonomia obliqua ( Saturniidae ), Brazil ( photo supplied )
 
 
 

Send a question to be answered on this page
 
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007-2008 unless stated otherwise, and must not be reproduced or published in part or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
 
Website designed, produced and owned by Adrian Hoskins