Subject: Caterpillar
Geographic location of the bug: Gloucester pool on the Trent Severn waterway
Date: 08/14/2019
Time: 01:51 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: A caterpillar like this stung my son last weekend. After it crawled across his hand he had a double track of very itchy sore spots
How you want your letter signed: Pam
Dear Pam,
We needed to research your location which we mistakenly thought was in the UK. Now that we know you are in Ontario, Canada, your son being stung by an Io Moth Caterpillar makes sense. This is a North American species with a well documented history of stinging. According to Poison Help: “The nettling organs are borne on fleshy tubercles, and the spines are usually yellow with black tips. The spines are connected to poison glands.” You may also read about them on Entomology University of Kentucky. To the best of our knowledge, the reaction is localized and though painful, the sting is not a cause of concern, though we would always recommend seeking medical advice if there are any concerns.