I noticed something unusual on the floor in my house and couldn’t understand what I was looking at. It lay perfectly still, bright green, almost decorative — like a fallen piece of a houseplant or a bit of plastic from a toy.
Its shape was smooth, the color almost artificial, and the two little “horns” on the sides made it look even more like a harmless object.
Curious, I leaned in closer.
That’s when the “thing” twitched.
I froze.
A moment later, it started crawling — slow, alive, and extremely unsettling. For a second, my mind couldn’t even process what I was seeing. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie, with dark spines poking from its body as if it were warning me to stay away.
And thank goodness I did.
When I finally learned what it really was, I felt pure shock — and relief that I hadn’t touched it.
It was a saddleback caterpillar.
And I was unbelievably lucky: if I had grabbed it the way I almost did, things could have gone very badly.
Its spines are venomous, and even the slightest brush against them can inject toxins into the skin. The reaction can be severe:
– Sharp, burning pain
– Redness and swelling
– Blisters
– Numbness
– Dizziness
– Nausea
Many people end up in the hospital because the pain is so strong it becomes unbearable.
Just reading that information afterward sent chills through me. One careless reach, and I could have spent the day with a swollen, throbbing hand—or worse.
What to do if you accidentally touch one:
• Use tape to carefully pull out any embedded spines.
• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply ice to reduce pain and swelling.
• If symptoms worsen, take an antihistamine and seek medical care.
I used a broom to gently sweep the caterpillar into a jar and released it far out in the garden. It can live its life—but not inside my house.
Since that day, whenever I see something odd on the floor, I think twice before reaching for it. Some things are better examined from a distance.
