The reason I had to cut my granate tree - Caterpillar of Megalopyge Lanata
Yesterday I realized that my granate tree was full of worms and very unpleasant. It had beautiful colours, but I didn't like the hairs covering all its body. My son told me to keep away because these hairs contain poison and they irritate the skin and produce an allergic state that can sent you to hospital and if it is not treated inmediately can cause death too.
It is found in Brazil, and it seems it is invading other countries like Colombia, Argentine and Venezuela. We find many types of these worms in our trees. Some destroy the trees if we don't control the presence of these enemies of nature. Most of the time they desapear by their own.
My daughter in law found one of this creature inside the house, and that was enough for me because I love my grand children more than I love the granate tree. My husband said we could fumigate it, that we didn't have to cut the tree, but we have too many butterflies and I know it is going to happen again and again, apart from the fact I don't like worms.
Countryside men believe that when you have this nasty experience of getting in touch with the hairs of worms, the best thing to do is to crush the worm, and to cover the skin with the substance extracted from the worm. I saw a young man who visited us at home do it and believe me or not he survived, the pain and allergy end up in few minutes. I think he was lucky. Please don't practice what I said because I don't know if it is advisable.
The most advisable, when this situation happens, it is to take the person to the nearest hospital to get treated because if the person is allergic the poison can die. Today came the person who was going to cut my tree and throw the rubish. As we have problems finding cooking gas, he cut the wood so that I can use it to cook in my backyard.
The man with the axe in his hands ended with the life of my dear and beautiful tree.
I do not know this caterpillar. But indeed, such hairy caterpillars can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. I fully understand your fear, even though I am a friend of caterpillars and butterflies.
This one doesn't like people near him. He is not very friendly. Thanks for pop in.
Compared to the treatment caterpillars often have to expect from some human individuals they are actually very friendly!
These were caterpillars, not worms.
I just call it necessary self-defence.
This is a community from insect lovers for insect lovers where the fascinating little creatures aren't "pests" or "unpleasant" but the main actors, the glamorous, admired stars! :-)
Here we try to change perspective and consider things from the point of views of the insects: are the caterpillars doing anything else than just eating, reproducing themselves (after becoming butterflies) and defending their lifes with very effective weapons? That's nothing else than what we humans are doing, too.
However, in addition we (Homo sapiens) pollute our environment, destroy the rain forests, change the climate, overfish the oceans, produce plastic and radioactive waste, conduct wars - yes, that's 'unpleasant'. :)
Thanks for letting me know. I know they are not worms, I went to school too, but they look like worms. I can tell you the process of metamorphosis of a butterfly, and those caterpillars though they look beautiful they can be dangerous for any human being, who are more important than an insect. Some men love insects more than children, and I cut my tree and killed all the caterpillars in behalf of my children. God created man and other creatures and told man to lord over all creation, and if they represent a threat you can act against them. It doesn't mean that acting as I did that I don't respect all animals and insects and for me all nature is fascinating.
Difference between worms and caterpillars:
Caterpillars have strong legs in a segmented body. While worms lack them or have little prominent locomotor appendages.
I gave my opinion, I don't like anyone to line up my beliefs. I still admire caterpillars but they can be very dangerous, it is fascinating the way they defend themselves. Poor children go to the streets looking for food and they don't always have the same luck. My grandchildren are safe though I had to sacrify my tree. In behalf of your community I will abstain to publish in you community though I have fascinating insects in my sorrounding ecosystem.
If they looked like worms, how could you know they are caterpillars? :)
If think they clearly look like caterpillars and are caterpillars.
I think killing insects and plants should always be the last option only, if nothing else helps.
That's what you might believe. However, as a scientist I am convinced that all organisms living on this planet are products 'created' by that amazing process called evolution by using the two methods mutation and recombination of genes (which for example is also the reason why children differ from their parents)!
If YOU tell me YOUR opinion (which I don't prevent you to do) of course you have to accept that I tell you also MY opinion. That's called freedom of speech and thoughts.
Here at this place people with different beliefs and cultures meet each other and should be ready to be confronted with a high diversity of opinions and point of views.
Furthermore, you are posting here in my home (my community) in which I read and comment every post whenever I feel like doing it.
That is why I don't want to post there because I felt attacked for giving my opinion. Evolution doesn't exist. Children and parents share DNA, God is God because He can create infinity number of features in human beings and we can share DNA with many people in the world that belong to the same genealogical tree. Scientists not always are right, they must accept God created everything because until now they having being able to imitate His creations. Hey it is my opinion, and thanks for creating the Fascinating Insects community, it is special.
So, you feel attacked if I disagree with you, but you also diagree with me - should I also feel attacked when you state:
That's a claim in contradiction with every scientific observations, conclusions and knowledge? Well ...
They are a mix of the DNA of their parents (recombination of genes), an in addition mutations take place. That's exactly how evolution works.
Consider also that far more than 90 % of the DNA of - for example - a Chimpanzee is identical with ours ... we are very close relatives.
Opposite to strictly religious people, scientists are aware that they can be wrong at times (that's the process of science to verify theories again and again), but nevertheless, without scientists you weren't even able to use the internet to discuss with me here ... Scientists aren't always right but come closer to the truth than anybody else.
You are free not to believe in scientific knowledge, observations, results of experiments, calculations and conclusions - and scientists are free not to believe in an 'invisible friend' called God.
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