“Do butterflies bite or sting?” is probably the least of your thoughts while chilling in the garden. These lovely little creatures couldn’t hurt a fly even if they tried! Butterflies do not use biting mouthparts and drink their meals through a straw-like proboscis.
But, as far as the young; Butterflies and Moths are not that polite.
You want to watch for the caterpillars that can bite, parroting Roald Dahl’s favorite character the Twits, and sting an unsuspecting hand some potentially serious consequences.
In this article, we will examine the biting capabilities of the Lepidoptera family, including common garden species you may want to take care not to touch.
Butterflies Can Not Bite Because They Drink Rather Than Eat!
Oddly enough, butterflies do not munch on vegetation or gnaw at fruit.
They are fluid feeders, like more than half of the world’s insects.
Fluid feeders are animals that utilize a liquid diet, which they suck up like using a straw.
So, what all do they eat?
- Nectar
- Honeydew
- Even disgusting liquids like blood or urine
They can’t bite or swallow meaning a bite from you is not on the menu.
It Is Literally Impossible for Butterfly Mouthparts to Bite
Butterflies are specifically evolved for fluid feeding.
They have no jaws or teeth.
But they have two mouthparts in their head that allow them to feed precisely the way a butterfly feed.
Labial Palpi
The labial palpi are two paired sensory appendages on the butterfly head.
Labial palpi are covered in olfactory nerve-endings and allow a butterfly to find food as well as assess moisture content in their habitat.
Labial palpi also serve a similar function as lips and cover the feeding parts of the butterfly and butterfly eyes when decomposing material may contain mites.
The Proboscis
The proboscis is the straw-shaped tongue that butterflies use to consume food.
A proboscis consists of paired grooved channels, which forms a tube used for feeding. When not in use the proboscis is disassembled and rolled up inside the head of the butterfly.
The butterfly must disassemble and clean the proboscis if any solids or sticky material gets lodged within the straw-like structure. It is pumped up from the body by musculature and it is important to have maximum pressure to get maximum feeding.
As a last resort, if the food source is dry, a butterfly can also deliver droplets of fluid from its abdomen to wet the food source and fluid feed.
There Is One Member of the Lepidoptera Family That Bites and Sucks Your Blood.
While we don’t mean to frighten you, one Siberian species of moth, Calyptra thalictri also known as the Vampire moth, actually sucks blood when it is feeding.
Vampire moths are the only species of butterfly or moth that is known to bite. Vampire moths have a barbed proboscis that can drill into the skin which allows them to feed on human blood.
Blood is a preferred means of feeding for Vampire moths, as it has more of the nutrients they need than a more benign source like fruit.
During reproduction, male vampire moths are known to use the blood to make a nutritious nuptial gift to the female to provide nourishment for their offspring.
Butterfly Larvae Can Bite and Even Cause Serious Harm…
The most experienced gardener will tell you, it is the caterpillars not the butterflies that cause a terrible nuisance and suffering in humans.
What may first appear to be cute little fuzzy caterpillars can actually produce harm by a myriad of defense mechanisms that can leave you with pain or ultimately even a trip to the hospital.
In addition to a nasty nip from a caterpillar, there is a possibility a caterpillar sting can also cause harm.
A good nip from a free little caterpillar is always a possibility…especially with all the chomping through vegetation caterpillars must do.
Beware their mandibles are capable of more than just leaf-cutting! If we were to handle them, they certainly have the possibility of biting us! A Bite Is Not the Worst Thing a Caterpillar Can Do
There are caterpillars that can sting you if you brush up against their spines.
Some types of hairs from certain caterpillars are also highly allergenic and some caterpillars have been rated as a potentially credible public health threat.
These facts mean you have to be extremely careful, when caterpillars are on or around your plants, trees or vegetables.
Need to Know Caterpillars Species to Give a Large Berth
Saddleback Caterpillar
The saddle on the back of this North American moth caterpillar looks fascinating; however, if you happen to touch it, you will meet multiple sharp spines.
This larva will even arch the back to drive the spines deeper into your finger or hand too.
Oak Processionary Moth caterpillars
This British insect is indeed the stuff of nightmares, given that their venomous setae are extremely irritating and can cause anaphylactic shock.
These larvae hatch and seasonally process in large numbers in woodlands.
Each carrying in excess of 60,000 venomous setae; it is not hard to see why this is indeed a public health risk each and every year.
Puss Caterpillar
Also known as the “Toxic Toupee,” this fuzzy caterpillar looks like a shaggy mouse or an overly grown mustache.
Don’t be tempted to touch its “fur,” as lurking within its fur are thousands of venomous spines that trigger a reaction that has been described as both white hot pokers to breaking a bone.
First Aid for Handling a Caterpillar Sting
If you ever get stung by a caterpillar, your No. 1 priority is to remove the venomous spines from your skin. Without removing the spines, the inflammation and pain will continue. The quickest way to remove the spines is to use contact or sticky paper.
You will place the sticky tape over the affected area, pulling out the spine (carefully).
From Experience, ice, anti-inflammatories and anti-histamines can all assist with relief as the sting becomes subsides.
Rounding Up
Butterflies as a source for bites and stings are not a significant concern, but you need to be extremely cautious around their caterpillars, especially if you are actively removing them from your garden plants or vegetables.
If you’re unsure about the type of caterpillar you are going to deal with, gloves and do not touch it!