Photo is from the ones I already very carefully, removed from my lemon tree. These are saddleback slug catapillars.
Went to get the last stalk of corn, and they are all over the leaves in this bed. I didnt realize and one brushed my face! It hurts!
Aside from the minor panic attack, that I was about to have to call an ambulance, I think I'll be okay? It def hurts. I did like the internet said and took sticky tape to the area and washed it with soap and water.
They are everywhere in my garden, making me want to not go near it.
I dont think the mantis can eat them for me. Has anyone ever dealt with this?
OP already copied in the info, but yeah, they can be dangerous indeed. On the scale of insect venom, they're on par with bees and wasps, meaning that not every dosing is going to be dangerous for every person, but the risks can be deadly at the upper end of things, and not solely due to allergic reaction. It's a fairly painful venom as well, plus those barbs being painful in and of themselves.
The barbs are kinda like the hairs that tarantulas kick off. They irritate the skin, and can cause nasty infections if worst case comes along.
Thing is, the barbs aren't super fragile (compared to something like tarantula hairs, not to things like bee stings), and they're what I've seen called "evolutionarily expensive". They cost the critter resources when they break off, and when the venom is released. So it tends not to happen from light contact. So just a light touch probably won't get you "stung".
I wouldn't fuck with one though.