How to Treat a Caterpillar Sting

Medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Last Updated: October 18, 2024 Fact Checked

While caterpillars are cute and fun to watch, they also have the potential to sting you badly. Caterpillar stings can cause minor symptoms or they can initiate a potentially dangerous allergic reaction. To treat caterpillar stings, you need to clean the site of the sting, treat the symptoms of the sting, and consult a medical professional if symptoms become severe. In the end, you will recover more easily from your caterpillar sting.

What to Do If You’re Bitten by a Caterpillar

Symptoms of a caterpillar bite or sting include redness, itchiness, swelling, welts, and rashes. Remove any leftover spines with tape and wash your skin thoroughly. Then, treat the area with a baking soda paste or hydrocortisone cream. If your symptoms worsen, visit your doctor immediately.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning the Sting Site

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1
Remove the caterpillar without touching it. If the caterpillar is still on your skin, use pliers, tweezers, or thick gloves to pick up the caterpillar and remove it. Never try to remove the caterpillar with your bare hands because it can sting you again.^{[1]
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- Caterpillar stings come from their tiny spines that look like hairs. That is why that it is so important to avoid touching them with your fingers.
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Use tape to remove spines from the skin. Get scotch tape, duct tape, or something similar. Place it over the site of the sting, then quickly remove it. The tape will catch any poison hairs or spines that remain in your skin. This is important to minimize sting symptoms and prevent additional stings.^{[2]
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- You can also use the adhesive part of a bandage to remove hairs or spines.
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Use soap and warm water to wash the area thoroughly. In addition, wash the surrounding area as well. Finally, make sure to wash both of your hands thoroughly, just in case you came into contact with poison or stingers.^{[3]
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Treating Symptoms

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Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one to two tablespoons of warm water. Liberally apply the paste to the area of the sting and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes. The baking soda paste should reduce itching and other discomfort. Reapply the paste every couple of hours.^{[4]
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If the baking soda fails to alleviate your symptoms, rinse the baking soda paste off and then apply a liberal amount of hydrocortisone cream. Allow the cream to sit. It may take up to an hour for it to sooth the sting site. Reapply the cream according to the instructions on the product.^{[5]
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If hydrocortisone cream also fails, wash thoroughly, and then apply a liberal amount of antihistamine cream. Wait for up to half an hour to see if you notice a difference. In many cases, antihistamine creams have proven ineffective in soothing the symptoms of a caterpillar sting, however you may find that the cream works for you.^{[6]
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After you have applied the baking soda paste or a cream, you can put a cold compress on the site of the sting. Place a bag of ice or frozen vegetables on the site of the sting for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Reapply the cold compress every hour or two.^{[7]
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Getting Medical Help

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Watch for the development of serious symptoms. Caterpillar stings can result in a variety of symptoms. Depending on the type of caterpillar and any allergies you may have, symptoms can be very mild or very severe. Common symptoms include:^{[8]
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- Itchiness and contact dermatitis, blisters, weals (welts), small red bumps, pain
- Acute conjunctivitis, if hairs penetrate the eyes
- Rash and hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bleeding and renal failure can occur after contact with the South American Lonomia caterpillar.
If you develop blisters, large welts, or a rash that spreads, contact your doctor immediately. This is important, as some people can develop potentially deadly allergic reactions to caterpillar stings.^{[9]
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Poison control can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 any time of the day or night, if you have any questions about how to treat a caterpillar sting. A poison specialist will answer the phone and provide you with recommendations about how to treat the sting site.^{[10]
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If you have not had a tetanus booster in the last five to 10 years, you should get one within 72 hours of being stung by a caterpillar. This is because the sting/wound site may become open to bacteria and infection.^{[11]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I stop my skin from being very red and itchy after a caterpillar sting?

Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS
Registered Nurse
Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

If you have already tried a baking soda and water paste, cool compresses, over-the-counter hydrocortisone, and/or an anti-itch cream like Benadryl, contact your primary care doctor or dermatologist for a stronger cream. You can also try an oral, over-the-counter antihistamine pill. A dab of apple cider vinegar may also provide relief.

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Question

Can gypsy moth rashes be fatal?

Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS
Registered Nurse
Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

The short answer is: probably not. The rash that appears can cause annoying itchiness that may last up to two weeks, but most cases are not serious. However, if any rash is getting worse or you are having difficulty breathing, then emergency care should be taken.

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Tips

Do not touch or handle brightly colored or hairy caterpillars.

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Do not scratch your sting.

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Note the geographic area in which you received the sting and ensure to keep pets and children away from the area. Alert officials if there appears to be an unusual level of breeding.

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Warnings

Never let pets or children play with unknown creatures, even something as small as a caterpillar. Teach children to avoid brightly colored and spiny caterpillars especially- showy colors and crests of hairs are often nature's code for poison.

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Even caterpillars that do not sting can be harmful to your yard. Watch for white, cobwebby nests of caterpillars in trees; evergreen bagworms and spongy moth caterpillars are parasitic and can kill trees.

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