It began as a calm, sunny Saturday morning — perfect for catching up on overdue chores. With extra time on hand, I decided to give my car a long-overdue deep clean. I vacuumed the seats, wiped the dashboard, and tidied the trunk until everything looked spotless.
Then I checked beneath the back seat — a spot I rarely think about. Expecting to find a few coins or an old receipt, I reached under and felt something dry and oddly textured. It wasn’t fabric or paper; it was stiff, brittle, and unsettling to the touch. I pulled it out carefully, and the sight made me freeze.
It wasn’t trash. It looked like the shed skin of an insect — covered in fine, needle-like hairs that made my skin crawl. I placed it inside a sealed plastic bag and decided not to take any chances until I figured out what it was.
A quick search revealed something I never expected. The strange object appeared to be the shed exoskeleton of a Lonomia caterpillar — one of the most venomous species in the world. Though native to South America, they can occasionally travel abroad hidden inside imported goods or luggage.
Even more alarming, I learned that the spines, even on discarded skins, can still be hazardous. Contact can cause severe reactions such as bleeding disorders, skin irritation, or in extreme cases, internal hemorrhaging. Realizing the potential risk, I immediately contacted a professional pest control service specializing in exotic or dangerous species.
