15 Remarkable Types of Caterpillars and What They Become
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of 10
Puss (Southern Flannel Moth) Caterpillar
an orange, furry puss caterpillar on a green leaf
Judy Gallagher / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
You might be tempted to pet one of these fluff balls, but that would be a big mistake. The puss caterpillar is one of the most venomous in the U.S. Underneath that toupee-like fur are hidden toxic spines that stick to the skin.7 Just one touch can unleash excruciating pain far worse than a bee sting. Symptoms may include swelling, headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, and even shock or respiratory distress. The more mature the caterpillar, the worse the sting.
Puss caterpillars eventually become Southern flannel moths with yellow, orange, and creamy fur on their wings, legs, and bodies. They hatch from cocoons that are extremely tough and may persist on trees long after the moth has emerged, even to the point of getting covered with lichens.8
A yellow and black Southern flannel moth with furry black legs on a red brick wall
Southern flannel moth. Patrick Coin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
of 10
Puss (Southern Flannel Moth) Caterpillar
an orange, furry puss caterpillar on a green leaf
Judy Gallagher / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
You might be tempted to pet one of these fluff balls, but that would be a big mistake. The puss caterpillar is one of the most venomous in the U.S. Underneath that toupee-like fur are hidden toxic spines that stick to the skin.7 Just one touch can unleash excruciating pain far worse than a bee sting. Symptoms may include swelling, headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, and even shock or respiratory distress. The more mature the caterpillar, the worse the sting.
Puss caterpillars eventually become Southern flannel moths with yellow, orange, and creamy fur on their wings, legs, and bodies. They hatch from cocoons that are extremely tough and may persist on trees long after the moth has emerged, even to the point of getting covered with lichens.8
A yellow and black Southern flannel moth with furry black legs on a red brick wall
Southern flannel moth. Patrick Coin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
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11 December 2022
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