The Strange Object Under My Car Seat That Made My Heart Stop
It was just a quiet Saturday morning — I was cleaning out my car, enjoying the peace. Everything was going smoothly until I reached under the back seat and felt something odd: dry, rigid, and strangely textured.
When I pulled it out, I froze. It wasn’t trash or a leaf — it was covered in tiny, hair-like spines, sharp enough to make my skin crawl. Thinking it might be an old plant, I sealed it in a bag and took it inside to look closer.
A quick online search made my stomach drop. The pattern and spines matched the shed skin of a Lonomia caterpillar — one of the most venomous species in the world. Its spines can cause internal bleeding, kidney failure, and even death.
These caterpillars are usually found in South America… so how did one end up under my car seat?