Austin Zoo Warns Of Venomous 'Asp Caterpillar' Making Presence Known (Video)

AUSTIN, TX — Austin zoo officials are alerting the public to a venomous insect that's starting to emerge in people's backyards this time of year — the so-called "asp caterpillar" with an official name of the Southern Flannel Moth.

A native of Texas, this critter that's just over an inch long has a painful sting. The peak months of envenomation — the process by which venom is injected into some animal by its bite or sting — are July through November, with symptoms typically including burning pain, swelling, nausea, and itching.

The creature enjoys staying in trees, particularly oak, oleander and plum. They are teardrop-shaped, covered in long, silky hairs and range in color from light brown to yellow to gray.

While native to the Lone Star State, the asp caterpillar can be found as far as New Jersey, southeastern Arizona and Central America.

Below is a video of one in motion. They might look cute (almost like a tiny furry dog), but be advised not to touch it. The powerful sting is quite painful.

So if you see these little guys lurking about, avoid making contact with them. Here are some more not-so-fun facts about them, provided by the Austin Zoo:

• Known by various names, this unassuming-looking caterpillar is the 1 ¼ inch long larvae of the southern flannel moth. It has a very painful sting and is one of the most venomous caterpillars in the US, leading it to be called “asp” in Texas.
• Southern flannel moth caterpillars are teardrop-shaped. Covered with long, silky hairs, they resemble a tuft of cotton or fur. Their color varies from yellow or gray to reddish-brown, or a mixture of colors. Their similarity in appearance to tiny furry cats may have given rise to their more commonly known name, “puss caterpillars.”
• These larvae move slowly by way of seven pairs of suction-cup like claspers on the rear half of their bodies.
• The adult of this species also appears to be furry. Its body and wings are cream-colored, while the middle body segment (thorax) and the base of its forewings are orange in color. It has furry black feet.
• Puss caterpillar populations vary from year to year. During outbreak years they are occasionally numerous enough to defoliate some trees. However, their main significance is medical– in Texas, they have been so numerous in some years that schools in San Antonio in 1923 and Galveston in 1951 were closed temporarily because of stings to children.

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>>> Image of asp caterpillar courtesy of Austin Zoo