Driver films weird insect crawling in his truck

Posted on Friday, 7 February, 2020 | Comment icon

Ever seen one of these ? Image Credit: YouTube / Pen News / Tommy Hortman

Tommy Hortman couldn't believe his eyes when he returned to his vehicle to discover this creature inside.

The footage, which was filmed in Charleston, South Carolina, shows a bizarre six-legged bug - complete with furry body and shovel-like head - crawling around on the seat and door panel.

"It looked alien," said Hortman. "Like a claymation cross between a squid and a lobster. It was slow and lumbering. I had no idea what it was."

Fortunately it didn't take long for an expert to identify the creature as a hag moth caterpillar.

According to Virginia Tech university entomologist Eric Day, the insect can deliver a rather nasty sting.

"The larvae I would not touch at all," he said. "At the caterpillar stage, people's reaction will vary but most people end up with - at the very least - a reddish rash."

"The stings are defensive, they're avoiding predation and parasites too."

In other words - if you see one of these crawling around, stay well clear of it.

Source: YouTube | Comments (9)

Tags: Insect

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Recent comments on this story

#1 Posted by Robotic Jew on 7 February, 2020, 18:12

Don't know what it is but it gives me the heebeejeebees.

#2 Posted by Bed of chaos on 7 February, 2020, 18:33

Hag moth larvae (south carolina) reportedly these things sting..wouldn't be happy seeing one in my car.

#3 Posted by Joe Rogers on 8 February, 2020, 2:17

Kinda reminds me of a really tiny King Ghidorah from Godzilla.

#4 Posted by Festina Lente on 8 February, 2020, 2:48

It’s Becoming and it doesn’t bite. Soft and {{Furry}}.

#5 Posted by Festina Lente on 8 February, 2020, 2:49

....The larva is distinctive, with no close analogues, although it may be mistaken for the shed skin of a hairy spider or leaf debris. It has six pairs of curly projections, three long and three short from the flattened body, each densely covered in hairs. According to David L. Wagner, who experimented on himself, the hairs do not sting, contrary to popular belief.... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobetron_pithecium

#6 Posted by Festina Lente on 8 February, 2020, 2:51

Mothophobia... ....

#7 Posted by Festina Lente on 8 February, 2020, 3:05

All dudes, afraid of Moths.

#8 Posted by Bed of chaos on 8 February, 2020, 6:30

Link states "some members of the Limacodidae family do sting". Sting or no sting, it looks like the face hugger from Alien. I want nothing to do with it.

#9 Posted by Matt221 on 8 February, 2020, 9:26

"Monkey Slug" sounds like a thrash metal band

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