I Saw Something Strange Under the Back Seat… and It Turned Out to Be More Dangerous Than I Ever Imagined

It started out as an ordinary Saturday morning. I was cleaning out my car, trying to finally tackle the crumbs, coffee stains, and random wrappers that had been collecting for months. When I reached under the back seat, my hand brushed against something dry and brittle.

At first glance, it looked like a piece of a dried-up plant—something that might have blown in through the window or gotten stuck to someone’s shoe. Its brownish color and flaky texture made me think it was nothing more than a forgotten leaf or a dead stem from one of my mom’s potted plants. I almost left it there.

But as I bent closer for a better look, something about it made me pause. The texture seemed strange—more rigid than a plant stem—and the way it was curled didn’t quite match any plant I’d seen. My second thought was that it might be some craft material, maybe something my niece had dropped, like a piece of dried clay or decorative twig from an old project.

Still, curiosity got the better of me. I pulled it out carefully and turned it over in my hand. That’s when I noticed tiny, hair-like spines along the surface. They looked harmless at first—almost like soft fuzz—but something in the back of my mind told me to be cautious. I remembered reading an article about dangerous insects and plants that could hide in everyday places, and a strange feeling crept over me.

I decided not to touch it with my bare fingers again. I grabbed a tissue, picked it up, and placed it inside a small plastic bag. Then I took a few photos and started searching online. What I found made my stomach drop.

It wasn’t a plant at all—it was the shed skin of a Lonomia caterpillar, one of the most venomous caterpillars in the world. Native to parts of South America but sometimes found in imported goods or even transported accidentally in vehicles, this caterpillar is a master of camouflage. It can look exactly like tree bark, dried leaves, or bits of debris. Even the shed skin can be dangerous because its spines may still contain traces of venom.

The venom of the Lonomia caterpillar is no joke. It contains toxins that interfere with the blood’s ability to clot, leading to internal bleeding, organ damage, and—in severe cases—death. Simply brushing against it can release the spines into your skin, and inhaling particles from them could cause respiratory distress or worse.

I was stunned. The idea that this deadly little creature—or even just the remains of one—had been under my back seat for who knows how long made me shiver. I have no idea how it got there. Maybe it hitched a ride on something my family carried, or maybe it came from a park or wooded area where I had parked.

I immediately called local pest control and explained what I had found. They confirmed my identification from the photos and came to safely dispose of it. They also inspected my car thoroughly to make sure there weren’t any others hiding inside.

The whole incident was a wake-up call. We often think of dangerous wildlife as something far away—deep in the forest or in another country—but the truth is, risks can turn up in the most unexpected places.

Now, whenever I clean my car or house, I’m much more careful about picking up anything I can’t immediately identify. I keep gloves handy, and I never lean in too close to sniff or inspect something strange.

What I found that morning could have been just another piece of trash. But instead, it was a reminder that caution and awareness can save you from a very bad day—or worse.

I explain exactly what it was and how dangerous it can be in the first comment