NOTE TO READERS: font> There are several variations of the e-mail. Various openings are " Be on the lookout for this bug...," "Here is a safety related tid bit that I discovered because of my dog...," "This could be useful for those of us and our families outside."
"Subject: Friendly Warning
On Monday night Megan sniffed a rather large bug (about 3 inches long) that
was on our garage wall and immediately reeled back. I checked her over and saw
nothing wrong - she was just pawing at her nose a little then seemed normal.
Tuesday morning when I woke up she has an eye swollen shut. I irrigated it with
saline and took her to the vet - she had a chemical burn on her cornea. She
is getting treatment and making good progress to recovery.
I photographed the bug and sent pictures to Texas A & M Entomology department
- the bug is Anisomorpha monstrosa, a breed of walking stick insect imported
from Belize and becoming common on the Gulf coast. This is not the normal walking
stick most people are familiar with (if you are familiar with them). The female
is from two to four inches long and heavy bodied. It ranges from weathered gray
to shiny black in color with a distinctive pattern on its back in yellow or
dull orange. This insect has a pair of meta-thoracic defense glands which can
spray an irritating secretion towards "attacking" objects. Temporary
blindness has been recorded when the secretion contacts eyes. If washed out
promptly with sterile saline this poses no real hazard. If not promptly removed
a chemical burn of the cornea can occur.
Here is a quote from a commercial grower in Florida sent to me by the entomologist:
"I went out to pick blueberries yesterday and found the bushes loaded
with walking stick insects. As I picked I took to having sneezing fits. I then
noticed that an unusual scent as the sneezing fit came over me. I wondered what
the source of the substance could be, as I continued picking I glimpsed wisps
of a yellowish color appearing in the air as the scent occurred. Then a walking
stick jumped onto my hat just above my right eye, it let me have a face full
of it's defense secretion & I thought that I had been sprayed with mace!
Another reported in the gulf coast is Anisomorpha buprestoides - same capabilities.
They can actually spray this chemical defense spray about 10 to 12 inches! It
is recommended that you rinse the animal with water as the chemical can stay
on the fur for several hours. It is water soluble.
After checking my yard I found three more of these and killed them - they are
an undesirable import and the A & M guy said if you see them kill them -
he actually recommended pouring boiling water on them to kill the eggs as well.
These are getting more and more common on the gulf coast - watch out for these
and don't let your kids near them.
Just when you thought killer bees were bad enough."