Lonomia obliqua

Lonomia obliqua
Lonomia obliqua larva
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Genus: Lonomia
Species:
L. obliqua
Binomial name
Lonomia obliqua
Walker, 1855

Lonomia obliqua is a species of saturniid moth ("giant silk moth") from South America.[1] It is famous for its larval form, rather than the adult moth, primarily because of the caterpillar's defense mechanism, urticating bristles that inject a potentially deadly venom. The caterpillar has been responsible for many human deaths, especially in southern Brazil. Its venom has been the subject of numerous medical studies.[2] The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. Guinness World Records classified Lonomia obliqua as the most venomous caterpillar in the world.[3]

  1. ^ Meyer, W.L. (1 May 1996), "Chapter 23: Most Toxic Insect Venom", Book of Insect Records, Gainesville, Florida: Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida, retrieved 18 March 2011
  2. ^ Alvarez Flores, M.P.; Zannin, M.; Chudzinski-Tavassi, A.M. (2009). "New Insight into the Mechanism of Lonomia obliqua Envenoming: Toxin Involvement and Molecular Approach". Pathophysiology of Haemostasis and Thrombosis. 37 (1): 1–16. doi:10.1159/000320067. PMID 20714126. S2CID 24819432.
  3. ^ Guinness World Records 2016. Guinness World Records. 2015. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-910561-03-4.