Fuzzy little stow-away

Arctic winds have been pushed down to Austin this week.  Our city is colder than parts of Alaska!  So of course there was a mad dash to tuck away all the Tropicals for the winter, and then pulling any of the borderline sensitive plants (some subtropical species) in for an evening or two. 

Tonight while looking at some of my protected Bonsai, I started cleaning off the odd dead leaf or twig that had been brought down by the wind.  One was this Anaqua, or Sandpaper Tree (Anaqua ehretia), a Texas native, but one that is found in the Southern half of the state.  I tend to protect mine when the temperatures go into the 20's, as we've been warned of for the past 2 nights.  This little tree will have its own posting about its history, but that will come later.  What a messy background!

 

Cleaning up the tree, my fingers suddenly grabbed something soft which began to move.  I immediately dropped it, and to my surprise, it was an Asp, or stinging caterpillar.  They're not uncommon, but I have rarely spotted them in my area, and had to take a few photos of the fuzzy monster:

 Awww, he wants to snuggle!

 

I know people have been "stung" by Asps, but I never have, and luckily the venom didn't get into the skin.  Score one point for calloused bonsai fingers!  Here is some light reading on the furry creatures from the Texas Poison Control Network:

The best known flannel moth and stinging caterpillar in Texas is the puss moth caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis, commonly called an "Asp." This caterpillar is often abundant and may infest shade trees and shrubbery around homes, schools, and in parks. They are of little importance as enemies of shade trees, but they can cause a severe sting. When a puss moth caterpillar rubs or is pressed against skin, venomous spines stick into the skin causing a severe burning sensation and rash.  Puss moth caterpillars are teardrop-shaped, and, with their long, silky hairs, resemble a tuft of cotton or fur. Their color varies from yellow or gray to reddish-brown, or a mixture of colors.



I guess reminders like this are important - be careful of what lurks in your trees when you take them inside!