I couldn’t even make out what I was looking at until I noticed something strange on the floor. Like a small fragment of a vibrant green plant, a ripped-off section of an indoor vine, or even a kid’s toy that had fallen off the table, it lay still. 
I stood over it, speculating about what it might be. The color was too vibrant, the shape was too flawless, and the tiny “horns” on the sides seemed nearly plastic.
However, the “thing” began to twitch as soon as I leaned in a bit closer.I froze. Then all of a sudden it started to creep.
I almost let out a terrified scream. The creature appeared so strange that it might have been taken from an alien science fiction film.
As it moved slowly over the floor, long, thin, dark spines protruded from its body, perhaps warning me not to touch it.
I was shocked to learn what it was, but fortunately, nothing bad occurred to me 
I found out later that it was a saddleback caterpillar. And I can count myself really fortunate since things could have gone horribly wrong if I had taken it up with my hand, as I nearly did at first.
Venom from its spines is pumped into the skin at the first sign of contact. Sharp pain, redness, swelling, blisters, and occasionally nausea, numbness, and disorientation are all symptoms.
After touch, the pain is almost intolerable for many, and they wind up in the hospital. While reading all of this, I felt a chill go down my spine.
My hand would have ballooned if I had made a single mistake.
If you happen to contact one by accident, what should you do?
First, use tape to carefully remove the spines. After that, wash the area with soap and water, apply ice, and take an antihistamine and get medical help if the response is severe.
I released the caterpillar far out in the garden after carefully sweeping it into a jar. It’s able to survive, but not in my home.
I now hesitate to touch anything weird I see on the floor.
