You might spot one crawling across a leaf and think it looks like a tiny piece of fur that somehow came to life.
And that is exactly when you should resist the urge to touch it.
Some fuzzy caterpillars are completely harmless. Others have irritating or venomous hairs and spines that can cause a surprisingly painful reaction.
One of the most famous examples is the puss caterpillar, the larval stage of the southern flannel moth (Megalopyge opercularis). It is covered in soft-looking hairs, but hidden beneath that fluffy exterior are tiny spines capable of delivering venom when they make contact with skin.
So if you’ve ever wondered, “Is that fuzzy caterpillar dangerous?”, the safest answer is: don’t find out with your bare hands.
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What Is a Puss Caterpillar?
The puss caterpillar
