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Daily Critter 6 (feddit.uk)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/photography@lemmy.world
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Rusty Tussock Moth Caterpillar.

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[–] 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Neat

It also has "stay away" colours, is the toxin relatively harmless to humans?

They have defensive glands at the back, and wipe their setae against them to charge them with toxins.[10]

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Technically yes. It basically just makes your skin crazy itchy for a few days.

    The real threat is that in North America, they’re an introduced species, and so have no natural predators. Big infestations can denude large chunks of forest.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago

    I don't know about this specific one, but in my encounter with its Asian cousin, both "crazy itchy" and "a few days" slightly undersold the experience.

    I sat on one while wearing shorts. My thigh was burning for a few days, and the pain stayed for longer than a month.

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