On a typical Saturday morning, while washing my car, I reached beneath the back seat and felt something dry and brittle.
At first, I mistook it for a plant stem or craft material, but its stiff, curled structure and tiny hair-like spines made me reconsider.
Using a tissue, I carefully packed it and looked it up online, only to find out it was the shed skin of a **Lonomia caterpillar**, one of the world’s most dangerous caterpillars.
Its spines are native to South America but can be mistakenly carried. They contain toxins that can affect blood coagulation, cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and even death.
Simply touching it or inhaling particles may be harmful.
Sh0cked, I called local pest control, who confirmed the identify and securely disposed of it, examining my car to make sure no others were hiding.
The episode served as a sharp reminder that hazardous creatures can appear in the most unexpected locations, including inside a vehicle, and it taught me to always proceed with caution, wear gloves, and avoid handling anything new.
What appeared to be a harmless piece of garbage turned out to be a potentially lethal hazard, demonstrating how alertness and awareness can avert major injury.
