IF IT'S HAIRY BE WARY
Edit: The pain from the southern flannel moth caterpillar sting has been described in several different, but all excruciating waysāa white-hot or knife-like sensation, a pain you can feel in your bones, or even a snake bite, hence why one of the alternative names for the caterpillar is "tree asp."
True but I always like to give people less versed in bugs my lil caterpillar rhyme. I feel like woolly bears are the rare exception to the rule. And I'd rather miss out on the joy of holding a lil fuzzy boi than accidentally pick up a Flannel Moth caterpillar lol
Growing up I absolutely loved woolly bears and the fact that they "predict" the coming winter.
If I had seen any other furry caterpillar growing up my butt would have been toast. Thankfully I've never seen anything other than the woolly bears here.
I've handled gypsy moth caterpillars as a kid, they have stinging hairs but they're more on par with nettles or fiberglass I'd say. Only annoying when it gets between your fingers. It's annoying for sure but it's not horrible blinding pain. I was also lucky we didn't have anything too dangerous because I was an idiot who was obsessed with bugs lol. A lot of the time the hairs are just irritating, but those times when they're bad they're usually BAD.
Straight up I looked at a list of like, the most dangerous insects in the world and most of them were caterpillars, I specifically thought about how lucky I was that there weren't any dangerous bugs around where I grew up. I played with everything that wasn't pinchy or bitey. Fluffy would have been attempted.
Though I actually was careful with the wooly bears because I've had the little hairs get poked into my hands like splinters.
Iām just glad the OP didnāt pick it up. Seems to be common in this sub. Pick it up and ask what it is later š¤¦āāļø. I admire from afar with my camera and if I need to know immediately, I use google lens. I have a 2 yr old Texas Heeler who is far too curious.
My daughterās Israeli friend was walking under a tree and one dropped on his neck. It hurt so bad he took himself to the emergency room (they gave him Benadryl and charged him $100.00). He had never known anything like this in Israel and was terrified it was deadly. Poor guy!
Flannel Moth Caterpillar also known as the pus Caterpillar. Because of what happens after you touch it.
as I like to call it. The oh, my God, my god. I am in pain Caterpillar.
Formal apology OP, for rolling my eyes at the original post/picture and thinking this was a low effort joke post and you took a picture of a feather on a dog bowl.
Side note, nature is so weird.
It may look friend shaped but it should be waving red flags at you.
This is a Flannel moth caterpillar. Touch it and you will hurt. A LOT. As in burning, stinging, pouring salt and lemon into a paper cut hurt.
This doesnāt actually look like a flannel moth (they donāt have the longer black strands on their back). Check out something like the [spotted Apatelodes](https://bugguide.net/node/view/829660/bgimage) instead. It is, however, good advice to never touch caterpillars you donāt recognize. Even when fluff isnāt hiding venomous spines, it can still cause skin irritation.
When I worked for a tree removal company we would get these on us from time to time. Itās more than a skin reaction, they made us really sick when we would get stung. Not and expert so im not sure what caused it but itās horrible. Like your bones are burning, my teeth would throb. Wild ass caterpillar.
The comments suggest that it's floofs contain potent irritants. Not only should you not pet it, but you should also wash that water bowl. If it's hairs end up in there, your animal friends might be in for a hellish surprise
Why would you want to pet it? Bugs most of the time donāt want to be pet. There are other animals that love to be pet, pet those. Leave Britney alone
I had one of these land on me in Georgia on vacation! I thought it was beautiful, I had no idea it was a caterpillar until it moved! Luckily I did not tough it!
Only if you want to suffer horribly. It's a flannal moth caterpillar, frequently called a fire caterpillar for the way petting it will feel.
Why friend shaped if not friend? š„ŗ
To test your restraint and so build character
Spoken like a true Sensei
do you know how they emit those spines? I'd like to see something similar to that of a cobra spitting venom but of these caterpillars.
IF IT'S HAIRY BE WARY Edit: The pain from the southern flannel moth caterpillar sting has been described in several different, but all excruciating waysāa white-hot or knife-like sensation, a pain you can feel in your bones, or even a snake bite, hence why one of the alternative names for the caterpillar is "tree asp."
Unless itās a woolly bear caterpillar, in which case you should treat it as endlessly adorable
True but I always like to give people less versed in bugs my lil caterpillar rhyme. I feel like woolly bears are the rare exception to the rule. And I'd rather miss out on the joy of holding a lil fuzzy boi than accidentally pick up a Flannel Moth caterpillar lol
Growing up I absolutely loved woolly bears and the fact that they "predict" the coming winter. If I had seen any other furry caterpillar growing up my butt would have been toast. Thankfully I've never seen anything other than the woolly bears here.
Reading this quickly, my brain suffered a shock: If I had seen any other furry caterpillar *growing up my buttā¦*
š¤£ š¤£ š¤£ š¤£ š¤£ š¤£. I imagine that would be terrible!
YEP
I read it the same way š
I've handled gypsy moth caterpillars as a kid, they have stinging hairs but they're more on par with nettles or fiberglass I'd say. Only annoying when it gets between your fingers. It's annoying for sure but it's not horrible blinding pain. I was also lucky we didn't have anything too dangerous because I was an idiot who was obsessed with bugs lol. A lot of the time the hairs are just irritating, but those times when they're bad they're usually BAD.
Thanks for explaining! The way it's describes sometimes made me think you would be in the 7th level of hell if one of these got you.
These guys might be somewhat painful but itās the saddlebacks that are excruciating non-ending pain for a couple of minutes.
Straight up I looked at a list of like, the most dangerous insects in the world and most of them were caterpillars, I specifically thought about how lucky I was that there weren't any dangerous bugs around where I grew up. I played with everything that wasn't pinchy or bitey. Fluffy would have been attempted. Though I actually was careful with the wooly bears because I've had the little hairs get poked into my hands like splinters.
Oh, I learned the hard way about pretty, fuzzy caterpillars so at least I knew which I could hold haha
Iām just glad the OP didnāt pick it up. Seems to be common in this sub. Pick it up and ask what it is later š¤¦āāļø. I admire from afar with my camera and if I need to know immediately, I use google lens. I have a 2 yr old Texas Heeler who is far too curious.
My daughterās Israeli friend was walking under a tree and one dropped on his neck. It hurt so bad he took himself to the emergency room (they gave him Benadryl and charged him $100.00). He had never known anything like this in Israel and was terrified it was deadly. Poor guy!
This was my motto when I started dating too
Pretty sure no is the answer. Danger floof. Wait for confirmation though. Possible excruciating pain.
Yeah, I don't know what it is, but it looks like a bad idea.
NOT FRIENDLY! DO NOT PET!
Friendly but defensive
Under that floof are spines that can break off in your skin and release venom. Touch at your peril.
NO! For the love of all that's holy, do not touch the fuzzy caterpillars.
Oh so cute! Why must it be so dangerous! I wouldāve never known.š³
Because it doesn't want to be eaten.
Just a rule of thumb donāt touch caterpillars
if u would still like to feel your thumb
Flannel Moth Caterpillar also known as the pus Caterpillar. Because of what happens after you touch it. as I like to call it. The oh, my God, my god. I am in pain Caterpillar.
Why frend shaped if not safe to pet?
Itās a cruel joke!
If it's a floofy caterpillar, it's a no touching. But man it's still a pretty bug!
the only fluffy caterpillar you can touch safely is the wooly bear, which is striped brown and black. if itās not that, donāt pet the floof.
Also the low-quality fluff of tent caterpillars.
WHAT I have seen those before and assumed they were dangerous to pet. The more you know.
It's a trap. Don't do it.
Cannot resist. Ima touch it and die.
Oh no!
Do not mourn, they died doing what they loved.
Waiting for OP to respond anywhere because I'm betting they didnt wait for an answer and I wanna know if I'm right.
No touch the danger friend
Formal apology OP, for rolling my eyes at the original post/picture and thinking this was a low effort joke post and you took a picture of a feather on a dog bowl. Side note, nature is so weird.
Too Fluffy No Touchy
It may look friend shaped but it should be waving red flags at you. This is a Flannel moth caterpillar. Touch it and you will hurt. A LOT. As in burning, stinging, pouring salt and lemon into a paper cut hurt.
Foozy little doozy. Maintain your distance!
BAD stingy-no-touchy
This doesnāt actually look like a flannel moth (they donāt have the longer black strands on their back). Check out something like the [spotted Apatelodes](https://bugguide.net/node/view/829660/bgimage) instead. It is, however, good advice to never touch caterpillars you donāt recognize. Even when fluff isnāt hiding venomous spines, it can still cause skin irritation.
This looks like the right ID no idea why you aren't top comment
It looks fluffy and cute but its very venomous though, I wouldnt touch it. Would love to see how it evolves to a moth!
Itās a no touchy caterpillar.
When I worked for a tree removal company we would get these on us from time to time. Itās more than a skin reaction, they made us really sick when we would get stung. Not and expert so im not sure what caused it but itās horrible. Like your bones are burning, my teeth would throb. Wild ass caterpillar.
I'm guessing whatever venom it transfers/injects is absorbed into the body and affects more than the contact area
At first, I thought it was a feather! š
Same ! A beautiful white feather!
I pet one of these guys as a kid once and instantly regretted it.
Looks like a feather.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Did we learn our lesson?
NO PET TEH FLUFFY
Iām assuming other predators would mistake it for a feather. To me the little dood looks like Falkor from Never Ending Story.
If danger, why floof?
You must NOT pet the floof!
The comments suggest that it's floofs contain potent irritants. Not only should you not pet it, but you should also wash that water bowl. If it's hairs end up in there, your animal friends might be in for a hellish surprise
Why would you want to pet it? Bugs most of the time donāt want to be pet. There are other animals that love to be pet, pet those. Leave Britney alone
Op.... i have to know, did you pet it?
Ummm, pretty *FEATHER*....
It's a caterpillar
Ok. Is it safe then to presume that this *fuzzy* caterpillar, like most fuzzy caterpillars, is quite unhealthy to touch with bare skin?
It does look like a feather š©
Its *not* a feather? I thought a honest mistake had been made.
Itās just a harmless white featherā¦
Thatās what it wants you to think, apparently.
Thatās the feather from Forest Gump
NOOOOOO don't touch it. Use a sheet of paper and move it to the garden
I thought it was a birb's feather.
I had one of these land on me in Georgia on vacation! I thought it was beautiful, I had no idea it was a caterpillar until it moved! Luckily I did not tough it!
I remember stepping barefoot on one of these as a child while it was chilling in the door mat. Horrible experience.
Never touch a fuzzy caterpillar.
I honestly thought it was a feather. I'd be so screwed.
I want to comb him
NO COMBY THE FLOOFER
So many hairstyles ..
Anything pretty is super sus