THE EVOLVING GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, SYNDROMIC CLASSIFICATION, MANAGEMENT, AND PREVENTION OF CATERPILLAR ENVENOMING

2005/03/01 by JAMES H. DIAZ, James H. Diaz · 16 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · Environmental Science · #Entomological Studies and Ecology #Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization #Forest Insect Ecology and Management

paper · doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2005.72.347

Abstract

Caterpillars are the wormlike, larval forms of butterflies and moths of the insect order Lepidoptera. Next to flies, lepidopterans are the most abundant arthropods with more than 165,000 species worldwide, and with most species posing no human threats. However, caterpillar species from approximately 12 families of moths or butterflies worldwide can inflict serious human injuries ranging from urticarial dermatitis and atopic asthma to osteochondritis, consumption coagulopathy, renal failure, and intracerebral hemorrhage. Unlike bees and wasps, envenoming or stinging caterpillars do not possess stingers or modified ovipositors attached to venom glands, but instead bear highly specialized external nettling or urticating hairs and breakaway spines or setae to defend against attacks by predators and enemies. Since the 1970s, there have been increasing reports of mass dermatolgic, pulmonary, and systemic reactions following caterpillar encounters throughout the world.

Cited by

• The sensory ecology of caterpillars
• Venomous Lepidoptera: defensive toxin systems, venom composition, and clinical significance
• Lepidoptera [wikipedia]
• Mitochondrial phylogeny and comparative mitogenomics of closely related pine moth pests (Lepidoptera: Dendrolimus ). [europepmc]
• Human-mediated disturbance in multitrophic interactions results in outbreak levels of North America's most venomous caterpillar. [europepmc]
• The Latoia consocia Caterpillar Induces Pain by Targeting Nociceptive Ion Channel TRPV1. [europepmc]
• Survival and Recovery of the Pine-Tree Lappet Dendrolimus pini When Subjected to Simulated Starvation. [europepmc]
• Caterpillar Venom: A Health Hazard of the 21st Century. [europepmc]
• Human Chondrocyte Activation by Toxins From Premolis semirufa , an Amazon Rainforest Moth Caterpillar: Identifying an Osteoarthritis Signature. [europepmc]
• In vitro antitumor, pro-inflammatory, and pro-coagulant activities of Megalopyge opercularis J.E. Smith hemolymph and spine venom. [europepmc]
• Radiating pain: venom has contributed to the diversification of the largest radiations of vertebrate and invertebrate animals. [europepmc]
• Unraveling the venom chemistry with evidence for histamine as key regulator in the envenomation by caterpillar Automeris zaruma . [europepmc]
• Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae): Current Status of Biology, Ecology, and Management in Europe with Notes from North America. [europepmc]
• Long read genome assembly of Automeris io (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) an emerging model for the evolution of deimatic displays. [europepmc]
• Outbreak of caterpillars (Lepidoptera) in Valle de Caracas, Venezuela. [europepmc]
• The sensory ecology of caterpillars. [europepmc]

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• The Cyprus Processionary Caterpillar (Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni, Tams)
• Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans