With reference to the recent incidents of caterpillars causing allergic reactions among schoolchildren, Assistant Professor Li Mei-hui of NTU's Department of Geography notes on an Internet website that the caterpillars involved very rarely use their poison glands to directly attack enemies. After people come into contact with their poisonous hairs, the usual symptoms are allergic pain, redness and swelling; the caterpillars are not as dangerous as hornets or centipedes.
針對近來發生的毛毛蟲造成學童過敏事件，台大地理系助理教授李美慧也在網站上指出，事件的主角毛毛蟲，很少用毒腺直接攻擊敵害，人們在接觸毒毛後，一般的癥狀就是疼痛、紅腫過敏，不似虎頭蜂、蜈蚣危險性局。