Giant silkworm moth

Appearance

These caterpillars are about 4.5 -5.5 cm in length, with background colors ranging from green to brown. Well camouflaged, they have rows of tubercles crowned with whorls of easily detachable spines of different sizes.

Defense

As an article by Antonio Pinto stated, the ''Lonomia obliqua'' has a unique venom that causes disseminated intravascular coagulation and a consumptive coagulopathy, which can lead to a hemorrhagic syndrome. It was soon discovered that at the base of each spine was a sack where the toxins were stored. As the stems and needles were stuck into the victim, venom would flow through the hollow needles and into the puncture wound.

It was also discovered that the toxin in this creatures' skin held highly potent anti-clotting agents. This anti-clotting agent would attach with another protein to the body’s cells and cause them to leak as blood is unable to clot. This internal bleeding would fill the surrounding tissue with “bruised blood.” This internal bleeding spreads through the internal organs and eventually leads to compression and brain death. This accounts for the minimum of 500 deaths as a result of contact with ''Lonomia''. Interestingly enough, the poison only takes effect in fairly large amounts. In order to feel the extreme injuries caused by this creature, the victim would need at least 20 to 100 stings likely because each sting only injects a minute amount of venom.

The genus ''Lonomia'' includes 26 species found on the American Continent. However, only ''Lonomia obliqua'' and ''Lonomia achelous'' have caused severe accidents, leading to hemorrhagic syndrome. Since 1989 the number of human accidents caused by these caterpillars has been increasing in the southern region of Brazil. Most victims were male , many were between 0 and 19 years old , and lesions are especially common on the hands . The reported death rate is 2.5%. An antiserum is produced by the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. It effectively reverses the coagulation disorders induced by ''Lonomia obliqua'' venom, and patients treated with this antiserum recover rapidly.Disseminated intravascular coagulation occurs as the toxin interacts with the victim’s body. One serious effect on envenomed victims is hemorrhage syndrome. “First described by Arocha-Pinango and Layrisse in Venezuela in 1967, the hemorrhagic diathesis caused in humans by touching the ''Lonomia'' species begins with inflammatory changes at the site of envenoming, followed by systemic symptoms such as headache, fever, vomiting and malaise. After 24 hours, a severe bleeding disorder ensues, leading to ecchymosis, hematuria, pulmonary and intracranial hemorrhages, and acute renal failure.”

Uses

The threat and danger of ''Lonomia obliqua''’s toxin is also intriguing. The qualities of this poison that allow it to prevent blood from clotting inside the body also have promising medical value. In several studies with rats and rabbits, the venom from these caterpillars has proven the anticoagulant qualities of the venom to be promising in medical circumstances, preventing unwanted blood clots and saving lives.