When 15-year-old Logan was collecting tree branches for a volunteer job, he felt a quick sting on his arm. Minutes later, a strange red, grid-like mark appeared—and then the pain hit. The rash spread rapidly up his arm to his chest, burning intensely. Logan grew pale and dizzy.
His mother, Andrea Pergola, tried home remedies, but nothing helped. Then Logan’s grandfather spotted the culprit—a fuzzy little caterpillar. It looked harmless, almost cute, but Andrea’s online search revealed the truth: it was one of North America’s most venomous caterpillars, now found in Florida.
Andrea rushed Logan to the ER, where doctors treated him. She later posted a warning on Facebook: “Research this caterpillar. Make your kids aware. Benadryl won’t help—go straight to the ER.”
What looked like an innocent insect turned out to be a dangerous reminder: sometimes the smallest creatures can cause the biggest harm.
