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)

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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