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Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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Posted by sandyb11903 7A (My Page) on Thu, Aug 25, 05 at 13:10
I got stung by the caterpillar yesterday. It did not feel to good. I did not see them, they were on the underside of some lilly leaves. I did notice the black specks (poop, I guess) and I should have know that there was something close by. They were small caterpillars, must be young ones. They are active in August and September. BEWARE!!!!
I don't know how to add a link but if you google Saddleback caterpillar you will find a picture.
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I agree that this is one of the most painful of all the stinging caterpillars. Attached is a link to a good photograph. Several years ago, someone here in the GardenWeb said that these insects reminded him of little Scotty dogs!!!! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Saddleback caterpillar
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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- Posted by Gail z7bGA (My Page) on
Fri, Aug 26, 05 at 12:55
| One got me last week. Quite a little fellow; my own fault as I went to pick it off a palm leaf. Gail |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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- Posted by Josh z8a AL (My Page) on
Fri, Aug 26, 05 at 14:49
| Wow, that is a strange looking creature. In over 30 years gardening in GA and AL I've never seen one. Have always had lots of Anoles and toads/frogs. Also feed birds so they hang around. Do you suppose the caterpillars got eaten? I sure don't want to be stung but I'd sure like to see one. josh |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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- Posted by EFam z7 GA (My Page) on
Fri, Aug 26, 05 at 15:15
| They do look like Scotty dogs with a green t-shirt. How funny! |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| You usually don't see them because they feed from the underside of the leaf. They appear to like a wide variety of plants, I have seen them on serviceberry, blueberry, river birch and even an oak. I have found immediate relief is best sought by applying ice. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| Your warning came too late for me. I got stung by two of them last night while weeding an iris bed. They were on the underside of two iris leaves and got me on the face, neck and shoulder when I leaned over them. I let them live but it was a difficult choice. It was very, very painful. Almost as bad as the time I stepped into a hornet's nest while clearing out a hillside in my front yard. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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I brushed against one over the weekend while mowing grass and ended up with a painful sting. This one was on a canna -- last time the little devil was on a blueberry plant and time before than on sweet corn. Apparently they're quite versitle in their taste in plants. What are the adult phase of these catepillars? Some sort of moth?
JPool |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| Apparently this is the adult form. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sibine stimulea
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I've been stung by these 7 or 8 times during the last 2 weeks.... This may sound strange, but I promise you it works - Take a small clump of chewing tobacco, wet it, and leave it on the area where you got stung for about a minute or two...The pain will be gone almost immediately. I think what we have is Kodiak Wintergreen or something like that (no I don't chew the stuff), but it's in a small can; probably $2-$3/can, and well worth having around! Works for bee stings too. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I was another victim yesterday while cutting my grass. The little devil was on the underside of an apple leaf and I brushed it with my hand. My first thought was a yellow jacket, but then I noticed it on the leaf. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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- Posted by momj47 Central MD (My Page) on
Sun, Sep 25, 05 at 12:39
| Thanks for the information. I just found one on a leaf in my garden, here in Baltimore. Strangest looking thing I've seen in a long time. It's certainly more interesting looking than the moth. Having been stung years ago by a green, fuzzy caterpillar, I keep my distance from all of them now. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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These, along with fire ant bites just don't really bother me. I find their sting annoying temporarily, but not really all that painful.
I check the underside of leaves and just cut the leaf off they are hanging out in. Then I throw them in the curbside green recycling.
The adult moths are pretty darned ugly, no match for the luna! GGG |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| Yup, they hurt! I have seen them on Quercus virginiana and Washingtonia robusta. Not too fussy about diet. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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Here's a nice pic of one I took last year so you know what to look for. They ARE still around even this late in the season.
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RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I stung by one yesterday and because I am sensitive to stings it meant an emergency room visit. I did not have my epipen and this hurt so bad I thought I was going to pass out. Today my thumb is covered with red, itchy, blisters and is still swollen. I have never seen one of these before but I will never forget this one. FAIR WARNING! If you are sensitive to insect stings keep your epipen handy and wear gloves. This guy was on the wax myrtle around our pool. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I had one on my rose last year and was stung badly. Since then I wear gloves (for the bugs, not the rose thorns). I also saw a bunch of them on my cherry tree. I haven't seen any this year yet. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| Last year I had one on my loripedulum while I was pruning it and it got me before I knew it was there. This year I noticed 4 on my blue ginger and while removing the leaves it still got me as I was removing the leaf. It did hurt but luckily I'm not allergic to stings, just the pain from them lol. trudyjean |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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I found one on a willow tree leaf today and am extremely
fearful of these as one sent me to an emergency room in shock
years ago. Does anyone know if they hatch and live in the general area or do they tend to migrate (hopefully)? |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| Hello, I was stung today when I got the mail.I have never heard of them till today. I'm wondering if there native to New Jersey or if he just came in the mail? |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I got stung by one of these when I was a kid. I'll never forget it. It hurt like crazy and I had just barely brushed against it. I've always loved bugs, and still do, but I am very leery of caterpillars thanks to that experience! |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I got stung today in the garden I've tended for 22 years and had no idea what got me until I found these caterpillers and looked them up. Are they spreading like Japanese beetles or something? I'm near Nashville. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| They're so cute! I've never seen one but I hope to some day (from a distance). Wildflower, who posted above, is correct about using moistened tobacco to take the sting out. It really does work. I'll have to do a little more reading about the saddleback cat. I didn't know there were caterpillars out there packing a sting. Sorry you got stung, Jomart. B |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| Ouch! I have run into these little boogers and they hurt! It is interesting that there is virtually no mark when you brush up against them, but the pain is intense. I have learned to be careful around plants with long, thin leaves, like liriope, iris, blackberry lily, etc. That's where I see them most often. Ow, ow, ow! |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| For any insect stings- immediately apply a paste of meat tenderizer and water. I got stung four times the other day and this remedy sure came in handy! The tenderizer has digestive enzymes that break down the venom. I was my own lab experiment because I did not apply the paste to one site and it took much longer to stop hurting and itching, and it remained swollen, while the tenderizer sites were almost unrecognizable the next day. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| I saw my first saddleback yesterday. Unfortunately these caterpillars munch on a variety of plants, so you never know where you'll find one. But they are often on the underside of the leaf. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| Yup, got zapped by one last week walking past the mexican petunias by the pool. Boy! Those little boogers pack a wallop! |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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I was stung twice by one small one. He stung me by my elbow and wris.
I was just pulling out dead snap pea plants and weeds by the dead pea plants. He was actually attached to some weeds. Darn thing......
My elbow and wrist joints hurt, my hand is slightly numb, and I am experiencing light headedness along with the lovely needle feeling.
Again darn thing.....my husband didn't let my attacker live. He plans to put 7 dust down....my question is what is the point of having a garden if it isn't organic grown? |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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| They actually don't sting. They are covered with very fine hairs that are as sharp as spun glass and that's what pricks you. A few years ago, I had a bunch of them. But I haven't seen any since then. At least I know to always wear gloves now. |
RE: Watch out for the saddleback caterpillar
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I counted six this morning on my Crocosmias after three got me on the arm while weeding. They don't hurt much but, can be quite a bother. They seem to prefer Iris, Crocosmias, Black Cherry, and Cannas, the best. Their camouflage works best with fall cherries since the brown spot blends with the leaves.
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