Anyone know what an ASP or Puss Moth is? | FerrariChat

Anyone know what an ASP or Puss Moth is?

Discussion in 'Texas' started by brokenarrow, Nov 9, 2008.

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  1. brokenarrow

    brokenarrow F1 Rookie

    Sep 25, 2006
    3,737
    Txass
    Full Name:
    Bill
    #1 brokenarrow, Nov 9, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well, I learned what one can do yesterday. I was working on the car and walked around to chat with the wife in the front yard, barefoot of course. I felt a bite on my two toes next to the big toe on my left foot. I thought, damn fire ants--I get bit by them all the time. So I sat down to brush them off and there was nothing there. Strange. The pain started getting worse. I knew it was not fire ants. Maybe a spider? Within twenty minutes I was in absolutely terrible pain; not only were my toes killing me, but my ankle and knee were hurting. I knew then that the toxin was moving up my body. Ten minutes later my jewels felt like I'd been kicked by a donkey. Uh-oh, this is not going well. I immediately took two benadryl and two ibuprophen hoping to stem the pain and swelling.

    We called poison control and they said it was probably an asp. My mind went back to last week when we were working in the garden and I found one in the flower beds. I knew what it was and what it was capable of, but had no idea to the extent it could take a 230 lb man to his knees. I was wracked with pain for over 12 hours. I am better this morning, but a valuable lesson has been learned I want to share with my fellow Texans, do NOT go around bare-foot or in flip flops in the yard in October-November. This things are EXTREMELY dangerous and can cause incredible pain, beyond snake bites and ten times more painful than a wasp. I've attached a picture so you know what the little devil looks like. Yeah he looks friendly, but if you touch him, you'll be in hell for what seems like an eternity.

    I can now see the spear tracks on my two toes where the toxin entered my body. I warn you guys that the Asps are very heavy this year and they are down right dangerous. I hope to hunt some of them down this afternoon and make them pay. I will be fully clothed and protected this time. I wish they were bigger so I could put some 223 toxins in their a$$.

    Pic attached. This is not my foot, but shows what the sting looks like. Mine is on the bottom of my foot and I must have smashed him when I stepped on him.
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  2. ...m...

    ...m... Karting

    Aug 31, 2008
    126
    #2 ...m..., Nov 9, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2008
    ...growing up in clear lake we saw asps often - nothing to worry too much over, just think of it as a really really bad wasp sting, or a brush with a jellyfish...
     
  3. brokenarrow

    brokenarrow F1 Rookie

    Sep 25, 2006
    3,737
    Txass
    Full Name:
    Bill
    I'd chew wasps and spit them out before I got near another asp. I rounded up about six more today and took good care of them.

    Pulled from a site on these criters:

    The best known flannel moth and stinging caterpillar in Texas is the puss moth caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis, commonly called an "asp". This is one of the most toxic caterpillars in North America. Puss moth caterpillars can pose a genuine health hazard. Intense, throbbing pain develops immediately or within five minutes of contact with the caterpillar. Stings on the arm may also result in pain in the axillary (armpit) region. Erythematous (blood-colored) spots may appear at the site of the sting. Other symptoms can include headaches, nausea, vomiting, intense abdominal distress, lymphadenopathy, lymphadenitis, and sometimes shock or respiratory stress. Pain usually subsides within an hour and spots disappear in a day or so -- however, with a larger dose of the venom, it is not uncommon for the symptoms to last up to 5 days.

    I was stung by four wasps last summer while trimming a tree--seriously, no comparison. But sometimes immune systems work in strange ways; some insects affect people more than others.
     
  4. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,122
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    Neither Jennie or I have heard of the asp, wouldn’t have believed it if you told us. She has never seen one in our woods or garden.

    2 weeks ago I must have been bit or stung by something, don’t remember the bite unless it was what woke me up and I just brushed it off my arm about same time. No localized bite marks, but a few times a day last 2 weeks my hands and feet itch really bad and swell up a little. Usually goes away in 5-10 minutes. Also every time I run I break out neck to feet and swell a little. No pain, no problems breathing, and since it goes away I haven’t worried about it. After 2 weeks getting a little old though.

    Yellow jackets mess me up bad, major swelling of that arm and itching for a few days. I got bit by something on bottom of my foot and it did that red spider vein thing over my foot and up my leg. That one was cool.
     
  5. drjohngober

    drjohngober Formula 3

    Jul 23, 2006
    2,040
    Cville and Gbury Tex
    Full Name:
    Dr.John Gober
    Rob, easily cured by getting a helo add on. Getting tired of the fixed wing scene yet?
     
  6. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,122
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    you're such a big help doc! :D ...just like Jennie, after I said no problems breathing or no pain she has pretty much ignored me. :)
     
  7. drjohngober

    drjohngober Formula 3

    Jul 23, 2006
    2,040
    Cville and Gbury Tex
    Full Name:
    Dr.John Gober
    They look like caterpillars with a mohawk. Never been stung by one but I have a fear of them- kind of a learned response similar to a rattle snake. Hope the flying is going well. I enjoyed the pics and story of your trip to west Texas. A lot more fun than Magehees Catfish.
     
  8. speedygirl

    speedygirl Rookie

    Aug 22, 2008
    13
    Dallas, Texas
    Full Name:
    Kimberly Hull
    Wow! This brings back an old bad memory. I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. As a kid, I spent all my time outside. If we weren't at the beach or lakehouse we were in a swimming pool. I remember jumping out of the pool and ran straight to a chair and sat down...I was up on my feet faster than I sat down. It felt like I had just received a shot in the rear from a doctor. I must of weighted 75 pounds at the time. My legs went numb and I couldn't walk then I couldn't breath. I remember being rush to the hospital. My parents were freaking out. That's how I learned about the power of the ASP.
     
  9. MOSS

    MOSS Formula 3

    Apr 28, 2004
    1,629
    I didnt know you guys flew. I have a helicopter I keep at Grayson County Airport by Texoma. Landed it in my back
    yard here in Colleyville two weeks ago.
     
  10. vlamgat

    vlamgat Formula Junior

    Jan 9, 2004
    776
    "To fly is fun but to hover is divine" What's your chopper? Colleyville huh? I think there are a bunch of city ordinances and FAA regs that will get thrown at you for that activity. Something to do with operating a helistop without a license I believe. It also invalidates your insurance BTW - BTDT unfortunately. So steer clear of the neighbors.
     
  11. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,122
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    I see several helicopters landing at residences in Southlake, they need a special license? I thought you could pretty much land a helicopter anywhere, like Pa Pa Bros & MSR as examples?
     
  12. MOSS

    MOSS Formula 3

    Apr 28, 2004
    1,629
    5 acres so no problem unless it becomes a nuisance, then FAA can make you permit a Helo.
    No ordinance problems. I cleared it through City and PD.
     
  13. MOSS

    MOSS Formula 3

    Apr 28, 2004
    1,629
    Hughes 269, but working on getting a Bell 206
     

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