Identifying featuresĪ fluffy mound of fur measuring up to an inch (2.5 cm) long with a distinct tail. These furry caterpillars are considered dangerous insects due to their nasty sting. The soft fluffy hairs conceal sharp stinging toxic spines than can cause pain if they sting you. Mostly found in states in the Southern US, these furry caterpillars may look soft but their looks are deceiving. They can range in color from gray-white to dark brown and almost black. Due to their painful bite, this species is also called ‘asp’ caterpillars as their bite can be as painful as a snake’s one. The name of ‘puss caterpillar’ comes from the fact that they look like tiny Persian cats. This caterpillar gives a nasty bite and is also called a puss moth, woolly slug, or Italian asp. One of the most toxic stinging caterpillar species is the Southern Flannel caterpillar ( Megalopyge opercularis). The hairs of the Southern Flannel Moth (Asp) Caterpillar conceal sharp toxic spines Ranging in colors from yellow to green to red, the Stinging Rose caterpillar has clusters of spiny horns covering its soft body. It is their preference of munching rose bushes that gives them their common name. They love to feed on apple, hickory, oaks, and maples. Stinging Rose caterpillars are found in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and other states on the Eastern coast of the US. Others are a type of yellow caterpillar that have white and blue stripes. Some types of these larvae have red-colored bodies with rows of purple or black stripes along their back. There are prominent spiky horns along its side, front, and rear. This caterpillar is identified by clusters of bright yellow spines sticking out from its body. Brushing against this type of caterpillar can leave you with an itchy, irritating rash. One of the most colorful stinging larvae is the Stinging Rose caterpillar ( Parasa indetermina). The Stinging Rose caterpillar has clusters of toxic spikes along its body Let’s look in more detail at how to identify species of caterpillars that are known to sting and cause skin irritation. Types of Stinging Caterpillars with Names and Pictures So, before picking up an exotic looking caterpillar, you should identify the species to see if it is a stinging kind. There is also a species of venomous caterpillar in South America that is so toxic that its ‘sting’ has been known to cause death. ( 2)Īlthough people refer to a ‘caterpillar bite,’ they are actually talking about the stinging sensation from urticating caterpillar hairs. The result in some people can be allergic reactions such as itching, nausea, blistering, or even abdominal upset. These are slowly released when caterpillar hairs sting a person. ( 1)Īlso, the spikes or spines of some stinging caterpillar species contain toxins. So, stinging caterpillars don’t sting in the same way that wasps or bees sting. This can cause irritation similar to handling fiberglass. These are barbed bristles or spines that can lodge in your skin and break off. The University of Florida says that some caterpillar species have stinging hairs called urticating hairs. How do some hairy caterpillars hurt you? Do venomous caterpillars sting? Just because a caterpillar looks spiky, hairy, fuzzy, or furry doesn’t automatically mean it’s dangerous. How Can You Tell if a Caterpillar is Venomous? The descriptions of stinging toxic caterpillars in this list are of mature larvae. This means that immature larvae can look different from caterpillars just before the pupation stage. It is important to remember that caterpillars go through many stages of growth before they become moths or butterflies. Most stinging caterpillars are identified by spine or fine hairs covering their body. Other types of crawling bugs may have more. You can tell these apart because caterpillars have a maximum of 5 pairs of prolegs. Some other insect larvae can look similar to moth or butterfly larvae. To identify caterpillars, it is important to take note of their size, color, type of bristles or spines, and habitat. Although not all species of caterpillars are venomous, they can do tremendous damage to plant foliage. After hatching from eggs, caterpillars are ravenous eaters and mainly consume plant and tree leaves. Before picking up any kind of caterpillar, it is important to identify the species to know if it is harmless or not.Īll caterpillars are larvae that belong to the order of moths and butterflies called Lepidoptera in the class of Insecta. Handling one of these dangerous caterpillars could leave you with a nasty sting similar to a bee’s sting. Caterpillars that are toxic and sting are generally hairy or have spikes on their bodies. While most types of caterpillars are harmless, there are some species of stinging caterpillars. Email Pinterest Facebook Twitter Linkedin
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