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

<< Previous story
New documentary to uncover Mothman mystery

Next story >>
Skeleton sheds new light on first Americans

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

Please Login or Register to post a comment.

On the forums

Enter forum

Forum posts:
Forum topics:
Members:

6660837
277899
183826

Spirituality vs Skepticism

Atheist vs. Agnostic Label

How can Judas have betrayed Jesus?

You don't have a soul

Other World News

"Absolute panic" amid Australia bushfires

Mystery pneumonia virus probed in China

Covid-19 was brought to Earth by meteorite

US Politics

Who will the Democratic nominee be?

What will the next Trump crime be?

Single-payer healthcare opinion

Stories, Sightings & Experiences

Discussion on PTSD

Disappeared Clock Card

Electricity Feeling In My Body

Space Exploration, Spaceflight and Astronomy

Bootes void thoughts

Bootes void

Betelgeuse and dimming

Science & Technology

Scientists are developing bouncy pavements
2-17-2020
A novel new type of rubber pavement being trialled in Sweden could help to save thousands of lives.

Science & Technology

Ice makes strange sounds in bizarre new video
2-17-2020
Dropping a chunk of ice down a 450ft borehole can produce weird sounds resembling cartoon ricochets.

Space & Astronomy

Arrokoth rewrites theory of planet formation
2-17-2020
New Horizons' encounter with a Kuiper belt object has turned what we know of planet formation on its head.

Bizarre

Live tree frog is found inside a green pepper
2-16-2020
An unsuspecting amphibian recently found itself at the center of a very peculiar mystery in Quebec, Canada.