Stinging Caterpillars
Hazards of the Outdoors
Written by Terry Price, Georgia Forestry Commission
Adapted for the web by the Bugwood Network
|  |
|
Some common stinging caterpillars are the saddleback, tussock moth, puss moth, hag moth, Io moth, Isa moth, and spiny oak slug (Figures 34-40). All feed on the leaves of various trees and shrubs between March and September and are capable of causing severe reactions in certain people.
|
 Figure 34 - Saddleback caterpillarPhoto by Center for Disease Control Archives, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
|
 Figure 35 - Whitemarked tussock mothPhoto by James Solomon, USDA Forest Service
|
|
The caterpillars are equipped with stinging spines located over their bodies. Each spine is connected to a poison gland that injects venom when touched. Children should be taught not to handle caterpillars unless they are recognized as harmless species. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants will prevent many brushes with these caterpillars while pruning trees and shrubbery
or just taking a stroll through the woods.
|
 Figure 36 - Puss CaterpillarPhoto by James Solomon, USDA Forest Service
|
 Figure 37 - Hag mothPhoto by Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service
|
 Figure 38 - Io mothPhoto by Center for Disease Control Archives, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
|
 Figure 39 - Spiny oak slugPhoto by Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service
|
 Figure 40 - Crowned slugPhoto by Beverly Sparks, The University of Georgia
|
|
