Summer has hit Austin hard and for the most part, it means nice weather. It also means an influx of these bizarre looking things – which you, your child, or your pet may be tempted to touch. This can be a natural reaction for some which is based on their bright colors and fluffy appearance. However, you should not touch them whatsoever. Despite looking like something from The Gremlins movies, these are actually called ASPs and are also known as puss caterpillars.

In short, these are poisonous, and touching them will leave you getting stung. This can lead to vomiting and diarrhea amongst other short-term health issues. Often, these are solved by applying an ice pack or taking antihistamines as a precaution. However, in some cases their stings can prove fatal.

Basically, some people can get allergic reactions to these and it can result in death. Although rare, if you’re very scared after touching one of these then it may be worth a trip to A&E or a quick trip to visit your physician. These are found throughout Texas, with sightings recently up in the Austin area.

Funnily, some claimed that the image above looked like Donald Trump’s wig, while others compared it to a Pokemon. All jokes aside though, these are nasty little caterpillars and you don’t want them to ruin your summer!