Milford chronicle., 1927-11-11
NO DANGER FROM
CATERPILLAR STING

That there is no vital or even
serious danger from the sting of the
numerous caterpillars which are
| infesting many sections of the Pen
insula, is the statement of DR.. Ern-
est N. Cory, State Enthologist, of
the University of Maryland. While
much concern has been aroused be-
cause of these insects of worms in
flicting rather painful and irritating
conditions where they have come in
contact with men, women and child
rem, the fear that there may be a
serious after affect is entirely with
out foundation, according to DR..
Cory.
DR.. Cory's statement on the sub
ject is in response to the many re-
quests for information made to the
Marketing Bureau of the Del-Mar-
Va Eastern Shore Association and
to County Agents. He offers the
following explanations:
There are at least three cater
pillars that are frequently found
upon the foliage of trees and shrubs
in the fall that are capable of in
flicting painful, though not serious
wounds. The first is the common
corn nettle, with which every farm
boy is familiar, about one and a
half inches long, green in color and
covered with branched spines. The
second is the common saddle-back
caterpillar, so-called because of the
fact that it's back appears to be
covered with a green saddle cloth,
in the center of which there is
small saddle shaped area that is
a velvety brown. Both the anterior
and pOsteriOr ends of this insect
are provided with tubercles from
each of which arises branched
spines. This caterpillar is about
three fourths of an inch long.
1.-THE third species, probably the
commonest of the three on the East
ern Shore, is found on maple trees,
used so much there for shade. 1t
is the larva of the flannel moth.
This larva is about one and one half
inches in length when full grown,
covered with long, silky brown hair
which droops down on each side as
though the insect had parted its
hair in the middle. Beneath these
long, silky hairs spines occur that
are capable of causing a decided
netting effect. The spines of each
of these caterpillars are connected
with poison glands lying beneath
the skin. The poisoning is usually
closely related to formic acid and
sometimes has been determined as
such.
None of these pests is present in
sufficient numbers, as a rule, to
constitute a general menace, and
they can all be controlled by spray
ing with arsenate of lead. Where
the pests occur on street trees, how
ever, it is extremely unlikely that
the trees will have been sprayed
and consequently, in favorable sea-
sons the insects de velop without
check"
Ordinarily, the insects do not
expose their singing spines unless
they get between the clothing and
the flesh or are otherwise subject
to pressure. The duration of the
irritation caused by the first two is
not nearly so lasting as that of the
flannel moth larvae. The netting
effect may last in the latter case
for two weeks. So far as the re-
cords show, the effect is confined |
to the area that has been injured by |
The singing. However, it is quite |
possible that people who are afraid
Insects in general would suffer
much more from the sting of an in
sect than others of more phleg-
matte nature.
"The treatment for stings of this
sort consists principally of local
applications of weak ammonia wa
Ter or packs of baking soda. A for
mula much used in the New England
States for the treatment of a rash |
produced by the spines of the brown
tail caterpillar is carbolic acid, one
half drahm; zinc oxide, one half
ounce and lime water, eight ounces.
This is to be used as local extern
al application"