Saddleback Caterpillar Moth
Acharia stimulea
Sibine stimulea
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Cragford, Alabama
Foley, Alabama
Gurley, Alabama
Ozark, Alabama
Brookfield, Connecticut
Jewett City, Connecticut(2 reports)
New Fairfield, Connecticut
Orange, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
Bear, Delaware
Hockessin, Delaware
Bartow, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Cocoa, Florida
Crawfordville, Florida
Deland, Florida
Deltona, Florida
Homestead, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Milton, Florida
Minneola, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Panama City, Florida
Sanford, Florida
Sebastian, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia
Dallas, Georgia
Duluth, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Fairview Heights, Illinois
Borden, Indiana
Greenville, Indiana
Rockville, Indiana
Taylorsville, Kentucky
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Bishopville, Maryland
Clarksville, Maryland
Fallston, Maryland
Jefferson, Maryland
Knoxville, Maryland
Millersville, Maryland
Mount Airy, Maryland
Owings Mills, Maryland
Pylesville, Maryland
Sykesville, Maryland
Westminster, Maryland
Carthage, Mississippi
Millville, New Jersey
Sewell, New Jersey
Croton On Hudson, New York
Asheville, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Fairview, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
Horse Shoe, North Carolina
Bellaire, Ohio
Canal Fulton, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Granville, Ohio
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Everett, Pennsylvania
Pequea, Pennsylvania
Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Robesonia, Pennsylvania
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Effingham, South Carolina
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Laurens, South Carolina
Manning, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Summerton, South Carolina
Cleveland, Tennessee
Greeneville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Seymour, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Spring, Texas
Annandale, Virginia
Berryville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Marshall, Virginia
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Montross, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Penhook, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Fairmont, West Virginia
Leon, West Virginia
Lost Creek, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
show all
wandygirl
brianaucuba
mbeh
socalgirlinthesouth
Thanks to all for the comments abo... read more
wandygirl
SoBelle12
frogger123
My grandmother was weeding in her hanging geraniums and said she was wondering why they were dying and reached her hand in to grab the weed and all of a sudden started feeling what felt like dozens of little wasp stings on her thumbs and when she pulled her hand out her thumbs were starting to swell so she ran inside and put baking soda on them to stop the pain of the stings. When I came I've she told me to take pictures of them with the camera. When I saw them they camouflaged very well for their bright colors. Later I took a long white laddle and pulled 6 of them off the plant avoiding touching them. Before I knew the proper name I called them porcupine caterpillars, because of the spiky appearance
tashi_d
I used a stick to coax him out of the cup for his photo opp. The stick just grazed my arm and man did it sting. I posted the pic on FB and got an almost immediate warning from a friend not to touch-
this is my year for caterpillars-2 weeks ago I found a dead Pandora Sphinx caterpillar in the pool-I've never in my life seen either before...I posted neutral because-this is nature
youngstarwalker
In the neighborhood I live in the resident's are all very close to each other with yards that butt up against each other. My neighbor's yard has gone wild with a passion flower vine that just won't die. She also has a few trees and shrubs at her fence line and while mowing I brushed against the leaves like I have every other time for years. Today I brushed up against the wrong part I figure.
As I walked away from the leaves and brush I felt a wildly stinging pain in the inside crook of my elbow area. Quickly there was a red irritated spot that soon raised with a few welts. I knew it was a sting of some sort because it felt really close to how a fire ant feels when you get several on you... read more
Buddhapotpie
talman88
AnnieCo
I returned home to hear about this 'thing' and looked at the place on her arm. We both go over to the small tree and I find at least 4 more of these critters. I go inside and do a search on the computer to find out what the heck it is. I also took a number of photos because they weren't all exactly alike for color or developement. I didn't kill them because I think they're cool looking and I don't have children to worry about. While they have chewed up a number of leaves, those will soon drop for the winter and new ones w... read more
Buggedindelaware
I find the sting stories very disturbing. Tomorrow might require a search through my hydrangea patch. I hate removing bugs, but these just don't sound kid friendly.
smorgan865
danwood
darnvarmints
afranke3
cafunk
edowd
I relocated one by carrying off the leaf it was gnawing, but today, in an attempt to similarly relocate 2 more, I brushed my forearm against a hidden 3rd. They love to hang out on the bottom sides of large leaves - you won't know they're there until you're stung!
My advice? Immediately spray the affected area with your garden hose. Head inside and wipe with Witch Hazel, then apply an ICE PACK. THis is key. It was my first instinct, and then someone on this blog mentioned it, too. It really does work.
Keep the ice pack on for as long as you can - all day if you have back-up ice packs. If not, go for a swim in a chlorine pool. The water takes all pain ... read more
holly_grower
Note added 9/24/10 - well, after fifty years of playing around in the garden, it finally happened. I just got stung on the thumb by one hiding on the... read more
cmsjjdr
RockyAcresRanch
lisette30
Aranelinya
It took me a while to find the acutual sting site as my hand was hanging down when I was stung. The venom rushed to and was first felt in the back of my hand so I thought that was the site of the sting. It was actually my wrist.
The sting causes a nasty burning sensation like a jelly fish and I now have cold chills, a fine sweat, nausea and a headache from hell. I am allergic to Hymenoptera stings and so will be watching closely to determine if a emergency room trip is in order.
The caterpillar has been humanely relocated OFF my property.
Why this typically ... read more
badgersmoon
Tntigger
workstogarden
lkiang
He told me to come look at it to see if I wanted it for my collection. I saw it's bright colors and assumed it was probably poisonous to I got a jar and scraped it up and closed the lid. Later I found out it was a saddle back caterpillar and it was poisonus on the web. I'm glad I didn't touch it! :)
princess102506
asturnut
player123
joycehome
SHAWNROTH23
trimming up plam trees when i brushed up against one of them and wham got hit.the first 10 minn it was the worst so far been about a hour now. swollen my hand to about 2 times the normal size.call someone else to trim any plants that the saddleback live on.they say to run water on the area were it stung you but do not do that made it worse.
QAO
I got zapped three times yesterday.. twice while deadheading gladiolas, and once on the top of my foot, pulling morning glory vines off my tree peonies. the first two times were on my knuckle and soft part of my forearm.
At first I thought I had rubbed my knuckle on one of my big grasses, which can be really irritating, but the pain was intense.. then when I got it a second time, I started looking around, and found two of the little buggars. I did not find the one that stung the top of my foot though.
I am an avid gardener, as well as having a degree in entomology, and I have never encountered one of these (let alone 3) before.
... read more
lisamaria
lauriepa1965
suscwbuff
Mr_RedBud
galsalgardens
Pughbear7
I ran across this little monster in south florida, where I ran a 10 acre nursery. I have had the unpleasant contact twice. both times resulted in trips to the emergency room. I guess it was a good idea because once the doctors got wind of what had hit me they had me in a room pumped with benadrill and steriod shot. I was told they can cause heart issues as well as just unpleasant pain.
They love Lady palms - Raphis spp. Even though I knew they loved the plant and pop up from time to time They still managed to get a few born before I was able to get them sprayed. I would love to know what the moth looks like. anyone out there please send me a pic, it would greatly be apreciated. Dave
pyramids54
mygardens
sallyg
barbed
The first thing I did was wash the spot with peroxide and then soap & water. I put a hydrocortisone cream on the welt since I didn't have any benadryl creme. Another piece of advice stated to use an ice pack for the swelling. It's been about an hour now and my arm is still a bit numb but the redn... read more
scarface
Miss_Huff
have a solid place in the ecosystem, but they are not pleasant to encounter
if they sting you. So don't go out and kill them. Just remove them from your garden. Here's what happened to me. I was picking hydrangeas. I was holding several stems and carried them to my kitchen sink, to make a bouquet. I was in the process of washing them and the back of my hand started to hurt, to really sting. I couldn't figure out why. Thinking it might
be a bee sting, my husband looked through the foliage and found the saddleback underneath a leaf. I treated it as I would a bee sting- with wet baking soda- but the redness and pain continued for a week.
As a r... read more
rb250
kenrnoto
Your young ones may be drawn to their bright colors and unusual markings so warn them to never, ever, touch hairy caterpillars.
I had never encountered these caterpillars before today. On my patio I had a Carolina Silverbells shrub growing in a gallon pot. Two days ago the shrub looked fine. When I went out to check it this morning just about all the leaves were gone and there were little caterpillar pellets on the ground. So I searched the plant and pot and found 7 of these strange looking caterpillars.
They really looked weird! That leafy green around their middle looked like they had taken part of a leaf and folded it around t... read more