Thread: Insect that causes blistering rash?

Hi all,

For a couple of days now, I've have a rash about 7cm in diameter, almost like many little blisters. I've never had a rash before so asked a couple of people what they thought it might be. One person said that looks like the work of a moth with caustic wings....a what I exclaimed! They couldn't give me much more information as they had only heard of it second hand and never encountered it.

I've done a quick google search and found several insects that cause rashes / burns - most notably the Blistering Beetle - but couldn't find anything on a moth.

Has anyone ever heard of a moth that causes a blistering type of rash? Any information would help.

Cheers
Latah

I once had a reaction somewhat like yours from contact with a caterpillar.

There are, also here, small hairy caterpillars 'Procession caterpillars' or 'Proccesionarios' as I know them from Spain, that sometimes fall out of trees and give a very itchie and burning irritation.
I myself had this unpleasant experience on a terrace of a restaurant in Sanur. It took a few hours before the itching stopped.
Cold water was the only thing I tried to cool it down.
I know that when dogs 'sniff' at them they can die of it by the swelling in their nose as a result. I don't know if there is any medicine against it.
In The Netherlands they are known as 'Eiken Processierups' but they don't only live in oak- or pinetrees.
Doesn't help you much but this can be the case.

Regards
Dick

Just another cause could be a spider bite!

Thanks all....although, I can't say I like anyone's response much!

It does seem to be starting to clear up today and the burning itch has gone...so here's hoping whatever caused it was some otherwise harmless, and not so hairy, insect with no more than six legs. I bloody hate spiders - even the thought that one might have taken a stroll on me whilst sleeping...sends shivers down my spine.

I feel otherwise fine, so can't imagine that it would be dengue. Taking my father to the Dr, Monday - if the rash is still there, I'll get them to take a look.

It's probably nothing.

Cheers
Latah

Originally Posted by Dick Rector

I once had a reaction somewhat like yours from contact with a caterpillar.

There are, also here, small hairy caterpillars 'Procession caterpillars' or 'Proccesionarios' as I know them from Spain, that sometimes fall out of trees and give a very itchie and burning irritation.
I myself had this unpleasant experience on a terrace of a restaurant in Sanur. It took a few hours before the itching stopped.
Cold water was the only thing I tried to cool it down.
I know that when dogs 'sniff' at them they can die of it by the swelling in their nose as a result. I don't know if there is any medicine against it.
In The Netherlands they are known as 'Eiken Processierups' but they don't only live in oak- or pinetrees.
Doesn't help you much but this can be the case.

Regards
Dick

I'm starting to wonder if my rash/burns might have been from a caterpillar. Now that the outer rim of these blisters or rash is fading, I am being left with what looks like a healing scar from a deep gash...a straight line about the size of your average caterpillar.

I googled the 'Procession caterpillars' and can't say I've ever seen one, let alone a chain of them!

What I used to see all the time was long red caterpillars or perhaps they are centipedes. I've tried to find these on google but so far have had no luck. Last rainy season, my bathroom was all but turned into a red caterpillar freeway! Anyone have any idea what these icky creatures are? I'm wondering if they might return with rains.

I'm dealing with a terrible rash that I believe started from spider bites-- I've been putting olive oil on the area and its helping a lot, reducing itching, irritation and speeding up the healing!

Originally Posted by Natasha

I'm dealing with a terrible rash that I believe started from spider bites-- I've been putting olive oil on the area and its helping a lot, reducing itching, irritation and speeding up the healing!

What makes you think it was spider bites? Any idea what type of spider?

Hope it gets better soon. Mine is all gone now...it only lasted a few days. I can still see a small mark...kind of looks like I've peeled from sunburn.

Hi, LATAH

I'm starting to wonder if my rash/burns might have been from a caterpillar.

There are toxic caterpillars here. You don't have to come into contact with them directly. Even the leaves they sit on can be bad news if you brush against them.

My wife does most of our gardening and every now and then, something "attacks" her. In her case, she experiences extreme itching and pain. It settles down eventually.
A long cold shower might help.

If caterpillars are the culprits, one thing to do would be to use sticky tape over the contact points (to remove the hairs they've injected you with).
Putting stuff like olive oil on the sites would keep the hairs in place. Apart from momentary "relief", wouldn't work. Like some people who get "attacked" by chilis and drink water to relieve the pain. Water and chili oil don't mix.

I'm not sure but I doubt that spider bites happen all that often. As far as is known, there are no deadly spiders in Bali (yet). Most spiders, with a few exceptions, will not bite unless you piss them off some way. Just like snakes.

Spiders don't creep around in the night looking for prey that's a million times bigger than what they usually eat. If you wake up with a big hairy Hunstman sitting on your nose, it might regard your trying to brush it off as an attack. It might even bite.

Don't forget that the smallest creature whose gaze can be felt by humans is that of a spider.

Check it out for yourself, if you don't believe me...See that spider 12,000 miles away from you (in spider geography), and make a move towards it. Unless it's stoned on Baygon, too much incense, kretek smoke, it'll "see" you, and react accordingly (to protect itself).
Cockroaches are similar, but usually bigger than your average spider, so don't count.