Caterpillar with a big head name. Black hairy caterpillar with a white stripe and red spots - sorrel armyworm

Pictured is the Winter Armyworm

Early purple-gray armyworm Orthosia incerta Hdn. (syn. Taeniocampa incerta Hfn.) - a butterfly with a wingspan of 35-37 mm. The forewings are violet-gray with a reddish-brown tint, the hind wings are yellowish-white, covered in gray pollen. On the front wings there are two large blurry spots with white edges and a wavy whitish line.

In the photo, the caterpillar of the winter armyworm

The fall armyworm caterpillar is green, lightly patterned, with a white or yellow line on the back and light yellow on the sides.

The pupa is red-brown in color. Caterpillars feed during May - July on fruit and deciduous trees and shrubs.

Look what cutworm caterpillars look like in the photo, which shows different stages of their development:

Control measures or how to get rid of cutworm caterpillars, described below, the most current remedies are proposed.

Collection and destruction of single caterpillars. Preventive annual spraying of plants before flowering against a complex of pests with drugs: fufanon, kemifos, kinmiks, actellik, spark, Inta-Vir, also reduces the number of armyworms.

In the photo there is a yellow-brown armyworm

Early yellow-brown cutworm Orthosia stabilis Schiff. (syn. Taeniocampaaa stabilis View) - a butterfly with a wingspan of 35 mm. The forewings are brownish-red with a yellow tint. There is a wavy whitish line and spots with light edges. Near the transverse line a row of black small dots. The hind wings are yellowish-gray, with light fringe.

Unlike the cutworm butterfly, the caterpillar does not have such an attractive appearance.

In the photo there is a yellow-brown scythe caterpillar

It is green, with small yellowish dots and five yellowish longitudinal lines on the back.

The penultimate ring has a yellow crossbar. The flight of butterflies is observed in April; after fertilization, females lay eggs on the buds and leaves of bushes and trees. Feeding and development of caterpillars is observed in late May - June. The early yellow-brown armyworm is common on apple trees, oak trees and many deciduous trees. It is constantly found on strawberries due to the presence of green leaves on overwintered bushes.

Fighting methods against cutworm caterpillars are the same as against the purple cutworm.

In the photo there is a brown-gray scoop

Early brown armyworm Orthosia gothica L. (syn. Taeniocampa gothica L.) - a butterfly with a wingspan of 35-37 mm, the front wings are brown-gray with a light wavy stripe and thin white transverse lines. Between the kidney-shaped and black oblong spots there is a black space with ring-shaped spots, the hind wings are gray-brown.

In the photo there is a brown-gray scoop caterpillar

The cutworm caterpillar is green in color, with a green head, three whitish-yellow lines on the back, and a wide white stripe on the sides. The pupa is brown. Caterpillars feed in April-May on fruit trees, shrubs and many herbaceous plants.

Control measures the same as against the early violet-gray cutworm.

Pictured is the Blue-headed Owl

Blue-headed armyworm, or blue-headed cutworm Diloba coeruleocephala L. (syn. Episema coeruleocephala L.), - moth brownish-gray in color, with a wingspan of 40 mm. The forewings are violet-gray, with a large yellowish-white spot, consisting of three small ones; the base of the wings is brownish, with a reddish spot. The same spot is also present on the inner corner of the wing. The hind wings are light gray, with an indistinct spot and a dark posterior corner. The fight against the blue-headed armyworm caterpillar should begin long before the butterflies emerge.

In the photo, the blue-headed armyworm caterpillar

The caterpillar is bluish-white, 35-38 mm long, has yellowish lines on the back and sides and black tubercles along the body, covered with hairs. The pupa is red-brown in color, covered with bluish-gray pollen. The eggs overwinter on branches near the buds. In early spring The caterpillars hatch and feed on buds, leaves and fruits, roughly eating them. On damaged ovaries, nibbles remain, which are later visible as brown, healed damage to the fruit. Having finished feeding, the caterpillars pupate in June in dense, cobwebby white cocoons in crevices of the bark. In September - early October, butterflies fly out and after fertilization, the females lay eggs on the branches. One generation of the pest develops per year.

The cutworm damages all fruit crops, many berry bushes and forest species.

Control measures the same as against the early violet-gray cutworm.

Stinging caterpillars adopt a general defensive strategy to protect themselves from predators. All species have setae, which are prickly spines or hairs. Each hollow bristle releases poison from a special glandular cell. The spines pierce your finger, then break away from the caterpillar's body and release toxins into your skin.

What happens if you touch a stinging caterpillar?

It will be very painful! The reaction depends on the type of track, the severity of the contact and its own immune system person. You will feel some burning and itching, and you may develop a rash or even some nasty pustules or lesions. In some cases, the bite area becomes swollen or numb, or the person experiences nausea and vomiting.

This article provides some great "safe" photos to look at so you know what they look like.

Although the bright green "saddle" entices you to take a closer look at the caterpillar, don't be tempted to pick it up. The saddle spikes protrude in almost any direction. The caterpillar will curl its back to embed as many spines as possible into your skin. Young caterpillars feed together in a group, but as they get larger they begin to disperse.

This species lives in America - in fields, forests and gardens from Texas to Florida, as well as in the north to Missouri and Massachusetts. It can be seen on almost all herbs, bushes, trees and even garden crops.

This is true beautiful caterpillar. The crowned queen shows off her spikes like the feathered headdress of a Vegas showgirl. Stinging bristles cross the perimeter of the crowned bullet, decorating its flattened green body. Later instars may also be covered in bright red or yellow spots along the larva's back.

This caterpillar lives in forests from Florida to Mississippi, as far north as Minnesota, southern Ontario and Massachusetts. It can be seen on oaks, elms, hickories, maples and several other woody plants. It feeds primarily on oak leaves, as well as elm, hickory, maple and several other woody plants.

3. Caterpillar Io Saturnia

This caterpillar with many branched spines full of poison is always ready for battle. The eggs are laid in clusters, so the earliest larvae will be visible in bunches. They begin larval life colored dark brown and gradually molt from brown to orange until they finally acquire this poisonous green color.

This species lives in fields and forests from Southern Canada to Florida and Texas. Quite often it can be seen on willow, aspen, cherry, elm, hackberry, poplar and other trees. Also lives on clover, grasses and other herbaceous plants.

4. Monkey slug caterpillar

The bloodworm caterpillar is sometimes called the "monkey slug." The name seems quite appropriate when you see what she looks like. Frankly, it's hard to believe it's even a larva. The caterpillar can be identified instantly thanks to its furry "hands" that sometimes fall off. But be careful: this adorable creature is actually covered in tiny, stinging bristles.

This species lives in the fields and forests of Florida and Arkansas, as well as as far north as Quebec and Maine. Can be seen on apple, cherry, persimmon, walnut, chestnut, hickory, oak, willow, birch and other woody shrubs.

5. Cat caterpillar

This caterpillar looks like a fluffy cat that you want to pet, but its appearance is very deceptive. Poisonous bristles are hidden under these long light hairs. It can cause a serious skin reaction, so don't touch anything that looks like this larva. Cat caterpillars are the larvae of the southern flannel moth.

Habitat includes forests from Maryland south to Florida, and west to Texas. You can see them on the leaves of many woody plants, including apple, birch, hackberry, oak, persimmon, almond and pecan.

6. Antiope butterfly caterpillar

Although most stinging caterpillars become moths, this spiny larva will one day turn into a beautiful mourning butterfly. Spearing elm caterpillars live and feed in groups.

Habitat includes wetlands, forest edges and even city parks from North Florida to Texas. They can also be found in the north and Canada. They live on elm, birch, hackberry, willow and poplar.

7. White flannel moth caterpillar

Based on its name, the white flannel moth caterpillar cannot be associated with such softness. She's too prickly. Look closely and you will see long hairs extending from the sides. Clumps of shorter, sharper spines dot the line of the back and sides. The adult moth is white, as the name suggests, but this larva runs the gamut from black, yellow and orange.

It lives in forests from Virginia to Missouri, and south to Florida and Texas. Can be seen on elm, oak and some other woody plants.

8. Stinging Pink Caterpillar

The stinging pink caterpillar lives up to its name. Its sting contains a substance that causes burning pain. The color of the caterpillar can vary from yellow to red. Look for unique identification markings - four dark stripes along the back, with creamy patches in between.

They live in wasteland and muddy coastal areas that stretch from Illinois to New York, and south to Texas and Florida. The caterpillar prefers a variety of woody plants: dogwood, maple, oak, cherry, apple, poplar and hickory.

Nason's slugs don't have the biggest spines in the caterpillar world, but they can pack a soft punch. These small spines retract, but the Nason larva can quickly extend its poisonous spines. If you look at the caterpillar's head, you will notice that its body is trapezoidal (not noticeable in the photo).

The habitat is forests from Florida to Mississippi. This species can also be found as far north as Missouri and New York. They feed on the leaves of hornbeam, oak, chestnut, beech, hickory and some other trees.

10. Dagger caterpillar Acronicta Oblinita

Here is another stinging caterpillar that varies in color. Search yellow spots along each side and note the red spots on the back. The smear dagger moth caterpillar takes its name from the plant it lives on.

This species can be found on beaches, marshes and barrens stretching from Florida and Texas to southern Canada. The caterpillar feeds on broad-leaved herbaceous plants, as well as some woody trees and shrubs.

These black and white caterpillars use branching spines to repel predators. David L. Wagner, author of Caterpillars from the Eastern North America”, notes that the bite he received from the male was noticeable for 10 days and caused hemorrhages where the spines penetrated the skin.

They live in oak forests from Florida to Louisiana, north through Missouri and all the way to Maine. Caterpillars feed on woody plants.

The spiny oak slug includes a rainbow of colors. It is usually colored green, but even if you find a pink specimen, you will be able to recognize the species due to the cluster of four darker spines at the rear end.

It lives in forests from southern Quebec to Maine, and also in the south from Missouri to Texas and Florida.

The white-headed moth caterpillar is easy to identify. Notice the red head, black back and yellow stripes on the sides and you will be able to recognize this stinging larva. Many tree borer caterpillars, including this one, are considered tree pests due to their love of feeding on woody plants.

The habitat is forests from Southern Canada to Florida and Texas. It feeds on almost any trees, both deciduous and evergreen.

(continuation)

— 5 —

Look, is that a hummingbird? No, this is some kind of unusual insect. Or not? Still a hummingbird?

This is a glass hummingbird or hawk moth Hemaris thysbe, with a wingspan of 38-50 mm, which is so reminiscent of a hummingbird when feeding that many people would never guess that it is a moth hovering above flowers. The diurnal behavior of these butterflies and their similarity to hummingbirds in size, foraging and feeding behavior lead to the fact that this species is very often mistakenly identified in nature.

The butterfly feeds through a long proboscis, which curls up under its head when not in use. The hawk moth lives in North America, especially noticeable in the spring.

— 4 —

Caterpillar - alien

Predators are more likely to attack caterpillars than butterflies. Therefore, at the caterpillar stage of life, many of them have a terrifying coloration. This green alien comes from the Philippines. It seems that his head is quite large and creepy, but this is just the effect of fake eyes, spots with the corresponding coloring. As a rule, the caterpillar's head is much smaller and is not located in the abdominal part.

— 3 —

Beetle – Darth Maul

The large milkweed beetle Oncopeltus fasciatus has the middle name Darth Maul, due to the similarity of coloring to the character's face. Star Wars" It feeds mainly on seeds, particularly milkweed.

— 2 —

Caterpillar - snake

Wine Hawkmoth, known as elephant hawk moth, is a large butterfly of the family Sphingidae. Found throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Its larva is about 75 mm long and colored green and brown. When frightened, the caterpillar raises its body, leaning on its front part.

This pose resembles a snake with a large head, and the four spots imitate the snake's eyes. These caterpillars are mainly hunted by birds, but when the caterpillar is in this snake position, the birds do not dare to approach. It is unclear whether the birds see that the caterpillar actually resembles a snake, or whether they are simply frightened by the sudden transformation of the prey into an unfamiliar, brightly colored creature.

— 1 —

Flower caterpillar

Can you figure out where the flowers are and where the caterpillar is? Moth caterpillar ( Synchlora aerata) is a genius at camouflage. She glues pieces of petals bright colors to your back to blend in with the world around you.

Depending on what plant they feed on, they may use all parts of colorful plants in the hope of not being discovered. When the petals begin to weaken and fade, the caterpillar discards them and replaces them with a new “coat.”

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Caterpillar - description, characteristics, structure and photo. What does a caterpillar look like?

Torso.

The length of the caterpillar, according to the variety, varies from a few millimeters to 12 cm, as in individual specimens of the Saturnia butterfly (peacock eye).

The caterpillar's body consists of a clearly visible head, thoracic, abdominal sections and several pairs of limbs located on the chest and abdomen.

Head.

The caterpillar's head is represented by six fused segments, forming a hard capsule. Between the forehead and eyes the area of ​​the cheeks is conventionally distinguished; at the bottom of the head there is the occipital foramen, which looks like a heart.

A round head shape is typical for most caterpillars, although there are exceptions. For example, many hawk moths have a triangle-shaped head, while other species have a rectangular head. The parietal parts can protrude strongly above the head, forming a kind of “horns”. Small antennae, consisting of 3 consecutive joints, grow on the sides of the head.

Oral apparatus.

All caterpillars are distinguished by a gnawing type of mouthparts. The upper jaws of the insect are well formed: their upper edge contains teeth designed for gnawing or tearing food. Inside there are tubercles that perform the function of chewing food. Salivary glands converted into specific spinning (silk separating) machines.

Eyes.

The eyes of caterpillars are a primitive visual apparatus containing a single lens. Typically, several simple ocelli are located one behind the other, in an arc, or they form 1 complex eye merged from 5 simple ones. Plus 1 eye is located inside this arc. Thus, caterpillars have 5-6 pairs of eyes in total.

Torso.

The caterpillar's body consists of segments separated by grooves and is covered in a soft shell, which provides the body with maximum mobility. The anus is surrounded by special lobes that have varying degrees of development.

The insect's respiratory organ, the spiracle, is a stigma located on the chest. Only in species living in water are the spiracles replaced by tracheal gills.

Most caterpillars have 3 pairs of thoracic limbs and 5 pairs of false abdominal legs. The abdominal limbs end in small hooks. On each thoracic limb there is a sole with a claw, which the caterpillar retracts or protrudes when moving.

There are no completely naked caterpillars: the body of each is covered with various formations - outgrowths, hairs or a well-grown cuticle. Cuticle growths are star-shaped, spines or granules that look like small hairs or bristles. Moreover, the bristles grow in a strictly defined way, characteristic of a particular family, genus and even species. The outgrowths consist of raised skin formations - tubercles, similar to flat, round or oval warts and spines. Caterpillar hairs are represented by thin individual threads or tufts.

Caterpillar development.

Depending on the species, the caterpillar can develop from several weeks to several years. Caterpillars of northern butterfly species do not have time to complete their development cycle in one season, so they hibernate (diapause) until next summer. For example, a butterfly, living in the Arctic Circle, can remain in the caterpillar stage for up to 12-14 years.

During its development cycle, the caterpillar undergoes not only significant age-related changes in the size and color of the body, but also striking metamorphoses. For example, the transformation of an almost naked caterpillar into a furry one or vice versa.

Caterpillars molt.

Each caterpillar molts several times during its entire period of existence. Miner caterpillars are susceptible to the least number of moults (2 times). The standard number of molts is 4, although some species molt 5 or 7 times. Unfavourable conditions environment cause a sharp increase in the number of molts, for example, a clothes moth caterpillar can molt from 4 to 40 times. It has also been observed that females molt more often than males.

Silk caterpillar.

Each caterpillar secretes silk, which it uses to move around and attach to surfaces. When a caterpillar crawls along a branch, the finest silk trail trails behind it. If it falls from somewhere, it will definitely hang on its silk thread.

Silk separation occurs due to the spinning apparatus of the caterpillar, consisting of a spinning papilla-tube located on the sclerite.

The resulting silk fiber emerges from the opening of the labial glands and then undergoes a pressing process that gives the fiber a ribbon shape. The fibers of the caterpillar are secreted by a pair of glands and in the outlet duct of the glands they are glued together with a special sticky substance. The mechanism of hardening of silk fibers is not well understood, but the theory of hardening by drying has been rejected because the silk of aquatic caterpillars hardens directly in water.

Most caterpillars live on land, although some species develop underwater (broad-winged moths). And Hawaiian moth caterpillars live both on land and in water, being adapted to exist in any environment.

In accordance with their living conditions, caterpillars are divided into 2 categories: secretive and leading a free lifestyle.

Secretive caterpillars include the following varieties:

• leafworms - develop in curled tree leaves;
• frugivores (carpophagous) - live in fruits;
• drillers (xylophagous) - live inside the trunks, shoots and roots of trees;
• miners - make passages and inhabit the structure of leaves, petioles, buds and peel of fruits;
• gall formers - provoke pathological growth of plant parts damaged by them;
• underground caterpillars - live in the ground;
• aquatic caterpillars - live in water.

The second variety of caterpillars, which live freely on the plants they eat, make up the majority of caterpillars large species butterflies.

What do caterpillars eat?

The hatched caterpillar first devours the shell of the egg in which it developed, and then proceeds to its main diet.

Most caterpillars are herbivores (phytophages) and feed on green mass and fruits of plants. According to the food supply, caterpillars are divided into 4 types:

• polyphagous - indiscriminate caterpillars that eat any vegetation, for example, the caterpillars of most moths;
• oligophages prefer plants of a certain family or genus. For example, swallowtail caterpillars eat only umbrella plants;
• Monophages consume a single type of vegetation. Yes, caterpillars silkworm feed only on mulberry leaves;
• xylophages do not eat anything except wood, and constitute a small variety of caterpillars - mainly glass beetles and wood borers.

The transitional form is considered to be a variety of caterpillars that eat lichens and tinder fungi. This category includes representatives of the genus of true moths. For example, the granary moth caterpillar thrives on poisonous ergot.

A few species of caterpillars are keratophagous by nature and eat elements of animal origin: horny substance, hair, wool and skin. Vivid examples are caterpillars of furniture, carpet and clothes moths. Caterpillars of true moths eat only wax, and bee moths eat honey.

Predatory caterpillars are the smallest group: most cases of predation occur when the population density is high and there is a lack of usual food. For example, cotton bollworm and bear moth caterpillars are carnivorous and attack their own kind, weakened and diseased caterpillars.

Caterpillars of the narrow-snouted and raspberry moths, as well as the sun moth, which feed on scale insects, are considered natural predators. Predatory blueberry caterpillars eat aphids, and moth caterpillars are exclusively insectivorous and are distinguished by a rich set of hunting devices for catching their victims.

There are species of caterpillars that live in symbiosis with ants - for example, some varieties of blueberries. These caterpillars live in the anthill and control the behavior of the ants by chemical means, secreting a special sweet liquid, or acoustically, making special sounds that attract ants.

Types of caterpillars - photos and names.

Among the great variety of different caterpillars, the following varieties are of greatest interest:

• The cabbage caterpillar or cabbage butterfly caterpillar (cabbage white butterfly) (lat. Pieris brassicae) lives throughout Eastern Europe, northern Africa to the Japanese islands, and was also introduced to South America. The caterpillar is 3.5 cm long, has 16 legs and has a light green body covered with black warts and short black hairs. Depending on the weather, the caterpillar stage lasts from 13 to 38 days. These caterpillars feed on cabbage, horseradish, radishes, turnips, turnips and shepherd's purse. They are considered the main pest of cabbage.

• The caterpillar of the moth (land surveyor) (lat. Geometridae) is characterized by a long thin body and undeveloped abdominal legs, due to which it differs in an original way movement - bends in a loop, while pulling the abdominal legs towards the pectoral legs. The family includes more than 23 thousand species of moths distributed throughout the world. All types of caterpillars of this family have well-developed muscles, and therefore are able to attach themselves vertically to plants, perfectly imitating broken branches and petioles. The color of the caterpillars is similar to the color of foliage or bark, which additionally serves as an excellent camouflage. They eat tree needles, currants and hazel.

• The great harpy caterpillar (lat. Cerura vinula = Dicranura vinula) lives throughout Europe, Central Asia and northern Africa. Adult caterpillars grow up to 6 cm and are distinguished by a green body with a purple diamond on the back, bordered by a white outline. In case of danger, the caterpillar inflates, takes a threatening pose and sprays out a caustic substance. The insect remains in the caterpillar stage from early summer to September, feeding on the leaves of plants from the willow and poplar families, including the common aspen.

• The red-tailed caterpillar (lat. Calliteara pudibunda) is found in the forest-steppe zone throughout Eurasia, as well as in Asia Minor and Central Asia. The caterpillar, up to 5 cm long, is pinkish, brown or gray in color. The body is densely covered with individual hairs or tufts of hair, at the end there is a tail of protruding crimson-colored hairs. This is a poisonous caterpillar: upon contact with human skin, it causes a painful allergy. These caterpillars eat the foliage of various trees and shrubs, especially preferring hops.

• Silkworm caterpillar (lat. Bombyx mori) or silkworm. Lives in East Asia: in northern China and Russia, in the southern regions of Primorye. The caterpillar is 6-7 cm long, its wavy body is densely covered with blue and brown hairy warts. After 4 molts, completing the 32-day development cycle, the color of the caterpillar becomes yellow. The food of the silkworm caterpillar is exclusively mulberry leaves. This insect has been actively used in sericulture since the 27th century BC. e.

• Caterpillar of the corrosive woodworm (lat. Zeuzera pyrina) from the woodworm family. Found in all areas European countries, except Far North, as well as in South Africa, Southeast Asia and North America. It overwinters twice, during which time it changes color from yellow-pink to yellow-orange with black, glossy warts. The length of the insect is 5-6 cm. Caterpillars live inside the branches and trunks of various trees, feeding on their juices. raspberries, strawberries, and feeds on them.

• The swallowtail caterpillar (lat. Papilio machaon) lives throughout Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America. One of the most colorful caterpillars: at first black, with scarlet warts, and as it grows it becomes green with black transverse stripes. Each stripe contains 6-8 red-orange spots. The disturbed caterpillar secretes an odorous orange-yellow liquid. It feeds on carrots, celery, wormwood, parsley, and sometimes alder leaves.

The smallest caterpillar in the world is a member of the moth family. For example, clothes moth caterpillars (lat. Tineola bisselliella), which have just emerged from eggs, reach a length of only 1 mm.

The largest caterpillar in the world is the Atlas peacock caterpillar (lat. Attacus atlas). The bluish-green caterpillar, as if dusted with white dust, grows up to 12 cm in length.

These seemingly harmless animals that love to crawl through trees can sting you with poison and, some of them are deadly even to humans. Few animal larvae are as beautiful and pleasing to the eye as caterpillars; it is the larvae of butterflies and moths that attract our attention most. Caterpillars complete the world of fascinating insects, like ladybugs and fireflies, which once fascinated such great writers as Lewis Carroll and Franz Kafka.

But let's move on from the cute appearance of these caterpillars and there is a reason for this, the German word for caterpillar (teufelskatz) translates to "devil cat". The dark side of caterpillars justifies insectophobia, the fear of caterpillars.

Stinging caterpillars have toxic hairs - these are hollow bristles that contain toxins produced by the glands of poisonous cells. When touched, these structures can break and the poison is released. The reaction from such a venom can range from mild burning and itching to intense pain and, in the case of the lonomia caterpillar, even death.

But before you go outside and decide to touch a caterpillar, remember that they do not pose a threat to us and the poison sting only occurs when you touch them and they feel threatened.

1. Coquette caterpillar (lat. Megalopyge opercularis)

Photo. Coquette caterpillar (lat. Megalopyge opercularis)

Photo. Caterpillar that looks like a cat

This hairy caterpillar is called the coquette caterpillar or Asp Caterpillar and both names make sense. This is because it is cute in appearance and more like a small kitten, but at the same time it is one of the most poisonous caterpillars in North America.

The poison is contained in poisonous thorns neatly covered with beautiful hair. When touched, the spines break and penetrate the skin, releasing poison. Mother Nature has worked hard on her to protect this sweet creature. According to the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC), this is not just a sting, it is a severe throbbing pain that progresses within five minutes after contact, pain spreading throughout the entire injured limb. Other symptoms may include nausea, headaches, vomiting, intense abdominal distress, lymphadenopathy, lymphadenitis, and sometimes shock or respiratory stress.

The moral is: move away from the cutest caterpillar in the world and thereby avoid an attack of sorts.

2. Saddle caterpillar (lat. Acharia stimulea, formerly Sibene stimulea)

Saddle caterpillar (lat. Acharia stimulea)

Photo. Frightening looking caterpillar

Winner of the "Most Similar Caterpillar to the Chinese New Year of the Dragon" award, this cute and beautiful hoary caterpillar native to eastern North America, although it is better suited to much more exotic climates.

This caterpillar looks more like a sport caterpillar than a decorative caterpillar. As can be seen, much of the rest of this creature's body is covered in pom-poms containing stinging hairs that secrete an irritating venom. Touching is very painful and can cause swelling, nausea, and leave a rash that may not go away for several days.

3. White cedar moth caterpillar (lat. Leptocneria reducta)

Photo. White cedar moth caterpillar (lat. Leptocneria reducta)

As Australia's Coffs Harbor Butterfly House describes it, during the day the white cedar moth caterpillar “hides in crevices on or near the ground. In the twilight of the evening they swarm like a swarming mass of hundreds of hairy brown bodies, in an eerie silent stream they crawl up the tree trunks and along the branches onto the leaves, which they greedily eat... when a tree is defoliated, they wander far and wide looking for something else.”

This caterpillar resembles an angora sweater and is actually packed with hairs that can cause terrible hives.

4. Caterpillar saturia io (lat. Automeris io)

Photo. Caterpillar saturia io (lat. Automeris io)

Photo. Caterpillars eat leaves

Animal, vegetable, mineral, no, it's a caterpillar! This tiny, colorful and sweet-looking Saturia moth caterpillar has a wide range of habitat from Manitoba, the southern reaches of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick in Canada, Montana, North and South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and all the way to the southern tip of Florida. This caterpillar is found almost everywhere in North America.

And as you may have guessed, these thorns contain a painful poison that is released at the slightest touch. Some people may feel severe pain and require medical attention, while some will only feel itching or burning.

5. Witch moth monkey caterpillar (lat. Phobetron pithecium)

Photo. Monkey caterpillar (lat. Phobetron pithecium)

Photo. Hairy caterpillar on foliage

Question: Would an octopus that looks like a stuffed animal be cute? Or that worst nightmare Arachnophobes?

But, nevertheless, one thing is certain and it is a little mystery why this caterpillar got its nickname “monkey caterpillar”. It is equipped with six pairs of shaped protrusions densely covered with limb-like hairs, which are completely painless for the caterpillar itself, but the hairs can cause serious irritation in humans.

6. Hickory bear caterpillar (lat. Lophocampa caryae)

Photo. Hickory bear caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae)

What elegance! Wonderful with a velvety back and long hairs, this creature does not look much like a larva, but it is a larva. Moreover, this is a stinging larva, dressed in a snow-white coat. Although some people have little to no reaction to this caterpillar, others may have a reaction that ranges from mild to a fairly severe rash comparable to that caused by contact with poison ivy.

7. Traveling silkworm caterpillar (lat. Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

Photo. Traveling silkworm caterpillar (lat. Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

Apparently someone needs a haircut and then someone will become much less dangerous and not so nice. The caterpillars of the traveling silkworm love to walk in whole groups on pine trees, as their very name suggests.

But it is also worth remembering that not a single hair of this caterpillar should be touched. Moreover, the extremely irritable hairs are harpoon-shaped and the caterpillar can use them when it feels threatened. At some point they penetrate everything open areas skin, saturating it with an itchy poison, leading to the appearance of blisters.

8. Lonomia caterpillar or lazy clown (lat. Lonomia obliqua)

Photo. Lazy clown caterpillar (lat. Lonomia obliqua)

Photo. Lonomy in a different coloring

Nature has endowed it with a special right and it takes full advantage of it; it is truly the most poisonous caterpillar in the world! You don't want to meet this caterpillar in a dark alley. Known as the "killer caterpillar", this South American caterpillar is responsible for at least 500 deaths and the true number is believed to be much higher.

The bristle-like horny projections penetrate the skin and deliver a dose of toxic venom that leads to headache, fever, vomiting and malaise, followed by serious bleeding leading to ecchymosis, hematuria, pulmonary and intracranial hemorrhage (yes, blood saturates the brain) and acute renal failure. In short, you may die because you will bleed and be unable to stop the bleeding due to the strong anti-clotting compounds in your blood.

Scientists have become interested in the hemorrhagic properties of the venom of this caterpillar and are conducting research to create an anticoagulant capable of thinning the blood and thereby preventing the formation of blood clots in the human circulatory system.

IN South America this caterpillar claims several lives every year.

What to do if you have been stung poisonous caterpillar?
The caterpillars cannot penetrate the skin or bite. However, their hairs can get into the eyes or skin, causing various symptoms in the area where hairs have entered or touched. Problems can also arise if someone inhales air containing caterpillar hairs or accidentally ingests a caterpillar.

This information is not for use as treatment or for getting rid of poison. If you experience health problems due to contact with a poisonous caterpillar, you should call emergency services.

Symptoms:
Eyes: pain, redness, tears;
Gastrointestinal tract: drooling, irritation of mouth and throat; vomiting if a caterpillar or its hairs were swallowed;
Nervous system: headache;
Respiratory system: cough, rhinitis, difficulty breathing, wheezing;
Skin: blisters, hives, itching, rash, redness;
Whole body: pain, severe allergic reactions(rarely anaphylactic shock), swelling.

Help at home
Get rid of irritable caterpillar hairs. If the caterpillar was on your skin, apply sticky tape (such as duct tape or construction tape) to the area and then remove it. Repeat as needed until all hair is removed. Apply calamine lotion to the affected area, followed by ice. Apply ice (wrapped in a towel or other suitable cloth) to the bite site for 10 minutes, and then for another 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If the patient has circulatory problems, reduce the time to prevent possible skin damage.

If a caterpillar touches your eyes, wash your eyes immediately big amount water, and then seek medical attention.

If you inhale caterpillar hairs, seek immediate medical attention.

Before calling an ambulance:
Find out the following information: age, weight and condition of the patient; type of caterpillar, if possible; time of incident.

What to Expect from Urgent Care
The arriving doctor will monitor your vital signs, including temperature, respiratory rate, pulse and blood pressure. Symptoms will be studied depending on the circumstances. You may receive: eye examination, eye rinsing with water or saline, inhaled bronchodilators, oxygen, medications to relieve pain and itching, skin text on removed caterpillar hairs, numbing drops, treatment for any allergic reaction.

Prospects (forecast)
The sooner you seek medical help, the better your chances of recovery. The results are usually very good.

Below you can see a short video about the mangrove stinging caterpillar Euproctis lutea, which is also toxic, the video also mentions the silkworm caterpillar discussed above.