NASTIES AND BEASTIES THINGS1

NASTIES AND BEASTIES AND THINGS THAT’LL “GIT CHA”: 

NASTIES AND BEASTIES AND THINGS THAT’LL “GIT CHA” Kyle Moppert Center for Environmental Health Services Office of Public Health

Slide3: 

Plants of Interest “It's much too dangerous to keep that plant alive.” (lyrics from Little Shop of Horrors)

Poison Ivy: 

Toxicodendron radicans “Leaves of three, let them be” Poison Ivy

Poison Oak: 

Poison Oak Toxicodendron pubescens

Poison Sumac: 

Poison Sumac Rhus vernix This shrub grows from 5 - 25 feet tall. The poisonous species has whitish-green fruit and the non-poisonous has a red fruit.

Plant Dermatitis: 

Plant Dermatitis Plant dermatitis is caused by reaction to skin contact with certain plants. About 80 percent of these reactions are irritant reactions and 20 percent are allergic reactions Urushiol (you-ROO-shee-ol) is the oily substance that causes an itchy rash 15% of the population is immune to urushiol.

Dermatitis / Blisters / Rash: 

Dermatitis / Blisters / Rash

Stinging Nettles: 

Stinging Nettles Cnidoscolus stimulosus

Stinging Nettles: 

Stinging Nettles The tiny hollow hairs break off and release formic acid which irritates the skin and causes white itchy spots to appear. Some people suffer for as long as 24 hours, while others only have the sensation for an hour or so.

Animals That You Can Run into Kickin’ Around Louisiana: 

Animals That You Can Run into Kickin’ Around Louisiana

The Most Dangerous Thing That You Will Regularly Encounter: 

The Most Dangerous Thing That You Will Regularly Encounter

Slide14: 

Watch out…. that dog’ll bite cha!

CDC has labeled dog bites in America an “epidemic”: 

CDC has labeled dog bites in America an “epidemic” In 1999, 4.7 million people were bitten by dogs, (nearly 2% of the American population) (CDC). Around 800,000 of these people require medical care In approximately 10 - 20 cases per year, the bite victim is killed.

Which Breeds Can You Trust?: 

Which Breeds Can You Trust? Mixed breed dogs, not pure-bred dogs, are most often involved in inflicting bites to people. The pure-bred dogs most often involved in biting incidents are German Shepherds and Chow Chows.

Breeds Responsible for the Most Lethal Attacks: 

Breeds Responsible for the Most Lethal Attacks The 10 breeds involved in the most lethal attacks: Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Malamutes, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, Dobermans, Akitas, Great Danes, Huskies, St. Bernards

Lethal Attacks - Two Breeds: 

Lethal Attacks - Two Breeds From 1979 to 1998, at least 25 breeds of dogs have been involved in bite related deaths. However, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers were involved in more than 50 percent of these deaths.

Dog Bites: Facts & Stats : 

Dog Bites: Facts & Stats Children make up 60% of dog bite victims. Dog bites are the second leading cause of childhood injury (AMA) Male children are bitten about twice as often as females. Dogs not known to the victim account for approximately 10 - 20% of all reported dog bites. Younger dogs (1-5 years) are involved in more dog bite incidences than older than dogs (>6 years). Male dogs bite more frequently than female dogs. The chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than an unchained dog. (CDC)

Preventing Dog Bites(for kids or inspectors!): 

Preventing Dog Bites (for kids or inspectors!) Never approach an unfamiliar dog. Be "still like a tree" when a strange dog comes up to you. Never run from or scream at a dog. If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball and stay still. Never play with a dog unless supervised by an adult. Don't look a dog right in the eye. Don't play with a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first. Don't disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. If you see a stray dog or a dog acting strangely, tell an adult. If a dog bites you, tell an adult right away (seek help).

Dog Owner Responsibilities: 

Dog Owner Responsibilities Restrain your pet. Unrestrained dogs cause about 82% of all fatal bites Socialize your puppy and obedience train your dog Spay or neuter your dog. Non-neutered male dogs are responsible for approximately 80% of fatal bites. Watch your dog's behavior and train your dog not to bite

Other Mammals of Concern: 

Other Mammals of Concern

Striped Skunk: 

Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis

Raccoon: 

Raccoon Procyon lotor

Bats: 

Bats Big Brown Bat Red Bat

11 Species of Louisiana Bats: 

11 Species of Louisiana Bats Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat - Corynorhinus rafinesquii Big Brown Bat - Eptesicus fuscus Silver-haired Bat - Lasionycteris noctivagans Eastern Red Bat - Lasiurus borealis Hoary Bat - Lasiurus cinereus Northern Yellow Bat - Lasiurus intermedius Seminole Bat - Lasiurus seminolus Southeastern Myotis - Myotis austroriparius Evening Bat - Nycticeius humeralis Eastern Pipistrelle - Pipistrellus subflavus Mexican Free-tailed Bat -Tadarida brasiliensis

Don’t Mess with that Snake: 

Don’t Mess with that Snake

Poisonous Snakes in Louisiana: 

Poisonous Snakes in Louisiana Cottonmouth Water Moccasin Rattlesnakes Copperheads Coral Snakes

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin: 

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin Cottonmouths are large, aquatic, venomous snakes. They are generally dark above: olive, brown, or black. A lighter/darker cross banding pattern may be seen, especially on the sides. They are heavy bodied with keeled scales (with fine longitudinal lines dividing each scale). Adult size - 30 to 48 inches. The young are more distinctly patterned, resembling a very dark Copperhead Snake, without the reddish tint.

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin: 

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin Agkistrodon piscivo

Louisiana Rattlesnakes: 

Louisiana Rattlesnakes Three species of rattlesnakes are found in Louisiana: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Timber or Canebrake Rattlesnake Pigmy Rattlesnake

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: 

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: 

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest of all venomous snakes in the United States (adults average length of 5 ft. and may be 7 ft.). With a sullen disposition, it can be bold and aggressive.  Fangs can measure one inch in large specimens.  Rarely seen in Louisiana, it was last verified in 1995.

Timber or Canebrake Rattlesnake: 

Timber or Canebrake Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus

Timber or Canebrake Rattlesnake: 

Timber or Canebrake Rattlesnake Timber or Canebrake Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Average length 3 feet, maximum length 6 feet.

Pigmy Rattlesnake: 

Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus m. barbouri

Pigmy Rattlesnake: 

Pigmy Rattlesnake Often called the “Ground Rattlesnake”. It has a tiny rattle that sounds like an insect buzz and can be heard for just a few feet.  Venom of the Pigmy Rattlesnake is toxic, but as only small amount is usually injected into a bite, it is not considered fatal to a healthy adult. Average length - 18 inches, maximum length - 2 feet.

Southern Copperhead: 

Southern Copperhead Agkistrodon contotrix contortrix

Southern Copperhead: 

Southern Copperhead Even though the copperhead does have the potential to inflict harm, it is like most other snakes--nonagressive. The copperhead will take a defensive posture only when directly threatened. When aroused, it may vibrate its tail like a rattlesnake, although it has no rattles. The bite of a copperhead, while painful and capable of producing severe illness, rarely results in death.

Pit Vipers: 

Pit Vipers

Pit Vipers: 

Pit Vipers Pit vipers have hollow fangs at the front of their upper jaw that are automatically brought forward when the mouth is opened. These fangs are used to inject their prey with hemolytic venom, which causes the breakdown of red blood cells in the bitten animal. This eventually subdues the animal, allowing the snake to easily swallow it.

Pit Vipers: 

Pit Vipers

Eastern Coral Snake: 

Eastern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius

Eastern Coral Snake: 

Eastern Coral Snake Typically very small, averaging only 20 inches Seldom seen, it tends to be very nocturnal and spends much of its life underground. Like hollow hypodermic needles, coral snake fangs are designed to instantly inject venom. Immediate pain usually accompanies a bite, but the real danger is that it causes suppression of the central nervous system. A lethal dose for a human adult is estimated to consist of as little as 5 - 10 mg (equal in potency to cobra venom) and is classed with several Old World species like the neurotoxic cobras, kraits and mambas.

Red on Yellow Will Kill a Fellow, Red on Black Friendly Jack: 

Red on Yellow Will Kill a Fellow, Red on Black Friendly Jack Scarlet King Snake Eastern Coral Snake

Red on Yellow Will Kill a Fellow, Red on Black Won’t Bite Back: 

Red on Yellow Will Kill a Fellow, Red on Black Won’t Bite Back Northern Scarlet Snake Eastern Coral Snake

Red on Black, Venom Lack: 

Red on Black, Venom Lack Milk Snake Coral Snake

Coral Snake Head: 

Coral Snake Head

Arthropods of Interest: 

Arthropods of Interest

Chiggers: 

Chiggers Trombicula spp. The microscopic larvae of this mite inject a digestive fluid containing enzymes that cause skin cells to rupture become red, swollen and itchy. These fluids are then consumed.

Dust Mites: 

Dust Mites

Vectors of Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever & Tularemia: 

Vectors of Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever & Tularemia Lone Star Tick Black Legged Tick Amblyomma americanum Ixodes species

Centipedes: 

Centipedes Centipede species in Louisiana can inflect painful bites, often accompanied by moderate to severe swelling and pain, but in most cases their bite is no worse than a bee sting.

House Centipede: 

House Centipede Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus)

Florida Back-White Centipede: 

Florida Back-White Centipede Chicobus spinigerus

Giant Red Headed Centipede: 

Giant Red Headed Centipede Scolopendra heros Girard

Striped Bark Scorpion: 

Striped Bark Scorpion Centruroides vittatus

Spiders: 

Spiders Along came a spider and sat down beside her and frightened Miss Muffitt away.

Black and Yellow Garden Spider: 

Black and Yellow Garden Spider Argiope aurantia

Golden Silk Orbweaver: 

Golden Silk Orbweaver Nephila clavipes

Carolina Wolf Spider: 

Carolina Wolf Spider Lycosa carolinensis

Arkansas Chocolate Tarantula: 

Arkansas Chocolate Tarantula Aphonopelma baergi

Dark Fishing Spider: 

Dark Fishing Spider Dolomedes tenebrosus Immediate burning pain at the site of the bite, followed by redness and minor local tissue necrosis.

Agrarian Sac Spider : 

Agrarian Sac Spider Cheiracanthium spp.

Agrarian Sac Spider : 

Agrarian Sac Spider Sac spiders are the probable cause of more spider bites than any other kind of spider and their bites are probably often misdiagnosed as Brown Recluse bites by health care providers. The burning, painful bite may develop redness, swelling and itching with a shallow necrotic ulcer.   Rash and blistering may ensue.  Some victims develop symptoms similar to those of Black Widow bites but much less severe: fever, malaise, cramps, nausea.   

Black Widow Spider: 

Black Widow Spider Latrodectus mactans

Black Widow Spider: 

Black Widow Spider Black Widow spiders can be found in stacked pots or baskets, firewood piles, rodent burrows, water meters, stacked boards, under bricks and stones.

Black Widow Spider: 

Black Widow Spider Latrodectus mactans

Black Widow Bites: 

Black Widow Bites Often not painful, it may go unnoticed. The venom can cause abdominal pain similar to appendicitis, as well as pain to muscles or the soles of the feet. Other symptoms include: alternating salivation and dry-mouth, paralysis of the diaphragm, profuse sweating and swollen eyelids. Black Widow Spider venom is 15 times as toxic as the venom of the Prairie Rattlesnake Bites are rarely fatal and healthy people usually recover rapidly, in two to five days.

Brown Recluse Spider: 

Brown Recluse Spider Loxosceles reclusa

Brown Recluse Spider: 

Brown Recluse Spider Loxosceles reclusa

Brown Recluse Spider: 

Brown Recluse Spider Loxosceles reclusa

Brown Recluse Bite: 

Brown Recluse Bite Warning: The slides that follow are very graphic in nature. You may not wish to view these!

Slide75: 

The Brown Recluse bite generally causes some mild stinging or burning and ulcerative necrosis may follow within several hours to several weeks. The initial lesion may be red, edematous or blanched and later may develop a blue-gray halo around the puncture.

Brown Recluse Bites: 

Brown Recluse Bites Day 1

Brown Recluse Bite: 

Brown Recluse Bite Day 2

Slide78: 

Day 9

Brown Recluse Bite: 

Brown Recluse Bite Day 11

Brown Recluse Bite - Surgery: 

Brown Recluse Bite - Surgery

Brown Recluse Bite: 

Brown Recluse Bite Day 38 with Skin Graft

Brown Recluse Bite: 

Brown Recluse Bite Two Years later

INSECTS: 

INSECTS

Little Beasties – Lice, Fleas & Such: 

Little Beasties – Lice, Fleas & Such

Head Lice: 

Head Lice Pediculosis capitis

Body Lice: 

Body Lice Pediculus humanus corporis

Pubic Lice: 

Pubic Lice Pthirus pubis “Crabs”

Avian Chewing Lice : 

Avian Chewing Lice

Fleas: 

Fleas

Thrips: 

Thrips

Blister Beetles: 

Blister Beetles Blister beetles have long, slender bodies with a relatively large head. These insects release a caustic substance when crushed that can raise blisters on the skin

True Bugs: 

True Bugs

Bed Bug: 

Bed Bug Cimex lectularius Bed Bug Spots on Mattress

Assassin Bugs: 

Assassin Bugs The Wheel Bug - Arilus cristatus

Giant Water Bug: 

Giant Water Bug Lethocerus sp.

Kissing Bugs / Cone Nosed Bugs: 

Kissing Bugs / Cone Nosed Bugs Triatoma sanguisuga Chagas' Disease /American trypanosomiasis, (Trypanosoma cruzi)

Flies: 

Flies House Fly Musca domestica Linnaeus

Stable Flies: 

Stable Flies Also known as the Dog Fly or Biting House Fly Stomoxys calcitrans

Horse Flies: 

Horse Flies

Deer Flies: 

Deer Flies

Biting Midges: 

Biting Midges Culicoides spp.

Black Flies: 

Black Flies Simulium spp.

Nasties that Sting: 

Nasties that Sting

Insect Stings: 

Insect Stings Over 2 million Americans are allergic to stinging insects. Each year insect stings send more than 500,000 people to hospital emergency rooms 40-150 people die each year as a result of allergic reaction to these insect stings Allergic reactions include hives, itching and swelling in areas other than the sting site, difficulty in breathing, dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure, nausea, cramps or diarrhea, unconsciousness and cardiac arrest

Solitary Bees: 

Solitary Bees Digger Bees Carpenter Bees Family: Anthropodidae Xylocopa virginica

Solitary Wasp: 

Solitary Wasp

Cicada Killer: 

Cicada Killer Sphecius speciosus (Drury)

Cow Killer or Red Velvet Ant: 

Cow Killer or Red Velvet Ant Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus)

Potter Wasps: 

Potter Wasps

Mud Daubers: 

Mud Daubers Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Sceliphron caementarium

Mud Daubers: 

Mud Daubers Blue Mud Dauber Chalybion californicum

Organpipe Mud Dauber: 

Organpipe Mud Dauber Blue Devils Trypoxylon politum

Thread-Waisted Wasp: 

Thread-Waisted Wasp Wasp with a caterpillar

Ichneumon Wasp: 

Ichneumon Wasp

Social Bees and Wasps: 

Social Bees and Wasps

Honey Bee: 

Honey Bee Apis mellifera

Leaf Cutter Bees: 

Leaf Cutter Bees Megachilidae

Bumble Bees: 

Bumble Bees Bombus spp.

Bald-faced Hornets: 

Bald-faced Hornets Dolichovespula maculata

Eastern and Western Yellow Jackets (Ground Hornets): 

Eastern and Western Yellow Jackets (Ground Hornets) Vespula maculifrons Vespula pennsylvanica

Paper Wasp: 

Paper Wasp Golden Paper Wasp Guinea Wasps Polistes fuscatus Polistes exclamans

Paper Wasp: 

Polistes annularus Polistes carolinus Paper Wasp

Stingers: 

Stingers

Ants: 

Ants Ants are believed to make up 10% of the total weight of all animals in the world.

Imported Fire Ants: 

Imported Fire Ants Solenops invicta

Imported Fire Ant Bites: 

Imported Fire Ant Bites

Slide127: 

Caterpillars to Stay Away From

Buck Moth Caterpillar: 

Buck Moth Caterpillar Hemileuca maia (Drury)

I O Moth Caterpillar: 

I O Moth Caterpillar Automeris io

Saddle Back Caterpillar: 

Saddle Back Caterpillar Sibine stimulea

Hag Caterpillar: 

Hag Caterpillar Phobetron pithecium (Abbot & Smith)

Spiny Oak Slug: 

Spiny Oak Slug Euclea delphinii

White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar: 

White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar Orgyia leucostigma

White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar: 

White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar Orgyia leucostigma

Puss Caterpillar  or Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar Megalopyge opercularis: 

The most poisonous caterpillar in the USA Hollow spines, hidden among the hairs, release a toxin of unknown chemical composition that produces intense pain and skin lesion Puss Caterpillar or Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar Megalopyge opercularis

Puss Caterpillar: 

Puss Caterpillar Immediate, intense pain that often comes in waves A swelling, itching rash of red blotches and raised ridges Restlessness and anxiety Nausea and vomiting Fever Muscle cramps Swollen glands Symptoms of shock

Slide137: 

Puss Caterpillar

Slide138: 

Puss Caterpillar

Puss Caterpillar: 

Puss Caterpillar If you come into contact with a Puss Caterpillar, remove the broken-off spines by using cellophane tape or a commercial facial peel and call your health professional.

Slide140: 

Other Louisiana Creatures to Avoid

American Alligator: 

American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis (DAUDIN, 1801)

Leeches: 

Leeches

Woodhouse’s Toad: 

Woodhouse’s Toad Glands behind each eye secrete a viscous white poison that gets smeared in the mouth of any would-be predator, inflaming the mouth and throat and causing nausea, irregular heart beat, and in extreme cases, death.

Y’all be Careful Out There!: 

Y’all be Careful Out There! Kyle Moppert Medical Entomologist Center for Environmental Health Services Office of Public Health 225-763-5776 kmoppert@dhh.la.gov