Its easy to identify an azalea caterpillar due to its rusty brown or orange oval head, black and green stripes, and brownish-orange tail end. Contact dermatitis in daycare facilities. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Orgyia detrita has two common color forms in Florida, a dark form and a light form. From its back this caterpillar has a tail that extends beyond its body. Tussock moth caterpillar Feeding by the caterpillars usually has little impact . New York, New York. 2007). Beadle D, Leckie S. 2012. To identify the luna moth caterpillar, look for its brown head, lines of bright red dots running along its light green body, four pairs of large prolegs, and three pairs of brown forelegs. Symptoms of a puss caterpillar sting include intense pain, swelling, a red, itchy rash, restlessness and anxiety, vomiting . Florida is home to many types of caterpillars. Florida Journal of Environmental Health 195: 14-17. Female fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) applying secretion to her egg mass. If control measures are required, chemical insecticide or Bacillus thuringiensis applications recommended for control of other caterpillars should be effective. Her expertise extends from weddings and animals to every pop culture moment in between. An Io moth caterpillar has an identifiable green body, tufts of urticating spines, and a colorful red and white stripe running the length of its body just above its legs. To tell the two species apart, look at the markings on its side. The cabbage looper is a green caterpillar common to Florida. Youll find these furry yellow caterpillars feeding on hickory, maples, birch, and oak leaves. Fox News reports that the larvae of the Southern flannel moth, also commonly known as "asps," have been spotted in Florida, and experts are urging residents to stay far away from the furry white insects which like to hang out on oak and citrus trees. The following wasp parasitoids of Orgyia definita and Orgyia leucostigma are recorded by Krombein et al. A mature imperial moth caterpillar is identified by its spiky appearance with hairs and spines covering its body. According to a report from the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida, the puss caterpillar and southern flannel moth is found from New Jersey to Florida and west to Arkansas and Texas. Catalogue of the Tachinidae (Diptera) of North America north of Mexico. Intense throbbing pain develops within five minutes of contact with pain extending up the affected arm. Henn T, Weinzierl R, Koehler PG. The hickory horned devil gets its name from the menacing red horns at its head. Recently molted male fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) pupa (lateral view), Orgyia detrita. Wingspreads of Orgyia species are 2.0-3.5 cm (0.78-1.4 in). An identifiable trait of this jaggy-looking caterpillar is its two long black horns on its head. The oleander caterpillar, Syntomeida epilais Walker, a bright orange caterpillar with tufts of long black hairs, is a common sight on oleanders in Florida and southern Georgia according to the UF/IFAS. In addition, the small green caterpillars have yellowish-green bands separating the segments. Two long black tufts of pencil-like hairs protrude from the front. Young larvae eat holes in leaves. After contact a sudden stinging or burning sensation begins and the affected area may begin to itch and turn red. Investigative studies of skin irritations from caterpillars. White Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Norape ovina) The mature white flannel moth caterpillar can reach 1-1/4 inch in length. There are butterflies who also take nectar or, in rare cases, pollen from poisonous plants. The black swallowtail caterpillar doesnt have any horns, spikes, or spines on its smooth body. Compared to other caterpillars, white admiral larvae have thick, spiny horns at their head. Further Reading: Moth Life Cycle. Volume 17 of Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas. It's known as the white marked tussock moth. The pipevine swallowtail caterpillar is a dark-brown, almost black caterpillar with fleshy horns at its head, tail, and sides. One of the scariest-looking caterpillars in Florida is the hickory horned devil caterpillar. The zebra longwing caterpillar is a pale gray crawling insect with long black fleshy spikes often found in the southern United States. (There are two other species of Orgyia moths in Florida, which look similar to O. leucostigma with the marshmallow looking tufts along the dorsal side.) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. It may be only an inch long, but you should still be sure to stay away from puss caterpillars in Florida. Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar (Citheronia regalis). The oblong appearance and fuzzy spines make it difficult to identify the head end from its tail end. Observations on the poisonous nature of the white-marked tussock-moth (. The caterpillars may be contacted when they drop from the host trees or when they wander from the trees in search of a place to spin their cocoons. Hag caterpillars, or monkey slugs, come in shades of brown; they have stinging hairs in pairs of lateral curved spines that vary in length. Diaz JH. Although tersa sphinx moths sometimes wander as far north as Canada, they mainly live in the tropics and in the southeastern states, from Texas to Florida and into North and South Carolina. It'll also put you in a world of pain. Cabbage looper caterpillars grow up to 1.5 (4 cm). There are also stinging hairs on its four sets of prolegs. The caterpillars, known as browntail moths, are about 1.5 inches long and have white dashes down their sides and two red dots on their backs. 110 pp. Southern Flannel Caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis). Figure 1. There is also a row of stinging spines around its abdomen. The green and black stripes and orange markings make the voracious larvae easy to spot on azaleas, rhododendrons, and apple trees. IFAS Extension. According to the University of Florida, the four major stinging caterpillars found in Florida are the puss caterpillar, saddleback caterpillar, Io moth caterpillar and hag caterpillar.. After hatching, the young larvae feed on the remaining egg mass and then spin a silk thread that they use to balloon for dispersal (Thurston 2002). They get to be about 2 cm long and also have clusters of spines that surround the edge of the body. Palo Alto, California. Although the fir tussock moth is not a highly familiar moth even to most entomologists, an image of an adult male does appear in a popular design used on ornamental paper, wall art, journal covers, purses, and fabric (Tim Holtz, personal communication). Instead, it is the larvae of the pine sawflya brown, winged insect that looks like a type of wasp. Grant GG, Slessor KN, Wei L, Abou-zaid MM. One of the unusual caterpillars youll find in Florida is the cecropia moth caterpillar. Early cocoon of fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) before many setae are incorporated. Part II. The characteristic traits of the eight-spotted forester caterpillar are thick black-spotted orange stripes, tufts of thin spines, and white and black stripes. Zebra Longwing. *This species is not currently recorded from N.A. The University of Florida says that some caterpillar species have stinging hairs called urticating hairs. The tomato hornworm is around 4 (10 cm) in length from its large head to its horned tail. Used with permission. The unusual milkweed tiger caterpillar is identified by clumps of orange, white, and light brown hairs covering its body. Some people experience severe reaction to the poison released by the spines and . However, beneath its hairy surface are poisonous barbs that pack a powerful sting, which can result in days and even weeks of pain. 2003. The caterpillars feed on poisonous plants, such as milkweed, and those poisons survive the caterpillar's pupation. Hossler EW. Rash illness outbreaks at daycare facilities associated with the tussock moth caterpillar, April 2004 and April 2005. Arnaud (1978, pp. Giant Silkworm Moth Caterpillar (Lonomia obliqua) Found in southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina, the giant silkworm moth caterpillar is one of the top poisonous species of caterpillar. Hairy forest tent caterpillars mature at 2.5 (6.5 cm) long. The striped caterpillars grow up to 2 (5 cm) long. These large stinging caterpillars grow up to 2.5 (6.5 cm) long. For photographs of pinned and spread specimens of males of the Lymantriinae, see Ferguson (1978). The multi-branched spines contain toxins that can sting if they break off in the skin. Florida Museum of Natural History photo by Andrei Sourakov. Adults emerge from mid-April to early May. Cocoons & Pupae: Cocoons are constructed of silk and setae from the caterpillars. They emerge from eggs bright yellow and gradually become green during each stage. Tobacco hornworm caterpillars look like tomato hornworms. Some are more poisonous than others. Queen butterfly caterpillars grow 2 (5 cm) long. The caterpillars white-spotted black body is covered in jagged tufts of spines. Giant leopard caterpillars grow up to 2 (5 cm) long. Fox News reports that the larvae of the Southern flannel moth, also commonly known as "asps," have been spotted in Florida, and experts are urging residents to stay far away from the furry white insects which like to hang out on oak and citrus trees. If . In addition, this small furry caterpillar has orangey spiny tufts on its back, tan-colored tufts along its sides, and a hairy brown body. Figure 22. For circulation or delivery issues, email Home_delivery . Megalopyge opercularis is a moth of the family Megalopygidae. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. The tomato hornworm is a bright green caterpillar with V-shaped markings and a row of eye-like markings along its sides. Petersen Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea). Health and safety-wise, moths pose no harm or threat to humans - they are neither poisonous nor dangerous. Cabbage Looper Caterpillar (Trichoplusia ni). Orgyia leucostigma was formerly placed in the genus Hemerocampa. Monkey Slug Caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 18: 203-239. Severity can vary for each individual. Figure 8. Polka-Dot Wasp Moth Caterpillar. These caterpillars do not possess stingers, but have spines (nettling hairs) that are connected to poison glands. The puss caterpillar - one of the most venomous of its kind in the USA - has appeared in Florida, Texas and South Carolina. Polka-Dot was Moth caterpillars have the longest bristle hairs of all caterpillars in Florida. 2009. 1978. Saddleback caterpillars feed on a variety of plants including maples, hibiscus, palms, and crapemyrtle. Spiny oak-slug caterpillars have a range of colors but can generally be identified by their oval, stout bodies, and their abundance of spiny protrusions. Also called tent worms, forest tent caterpillars are easy to identify in spring and summer when they are active. Despite their soft appearance, the insect's hairs pack a painful punch. Spiny oak caterpillars are 0.8 (2 cm) long. Figure 31. Fabric with image of Orgyia detrita male. Bagworms are identified by the bag-like structures measuring 0.4 to 6 (1 to 15 cm) long and made from tree foliage. Spiny Oak-Slug Caterpillar Euclea delphinii. The caterpillar grows up to 2 (5 cm) long. Stinging and Venomous Caterpillars of the Southeast, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). You can find red admiral caterpillars feeding on stinging nettle leaves. There is conflicting information on whether this caterpillar stings. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 12(1): 140. Youll notice that the stripy caterpillar has six large fleshy tentaclestwo pairs near its head and two shorter horns at its tail end. Palm Beach County News . Giant silkworm moth larvae and flannel moth caterpillars are specifically noted for their ability to cause a painful sting. 2005. Poisonous glands attached to stinging spines can cause skin irritation if you handle this fuzzy caterpillar. There is a humane way to get rid of cane toads. Dermatologic manifestations of encounters with Lepidoptera. Fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) caterpillar (dorsal view). The species is found from New Jersey to Florida and west to Arkansas and Texas. In Florida, you can see these striped caterpillars on fruit trees, cottonwood, walnut, and willow trees. Castellanos I, Barbosa P, Caldas A. ecology, identification and distribution of Caterpillars -- identification guide -- Discover Life. The dark-colored caterpillar has fine hairs covering its body, giving it a velvety appearance. Though the adult moths do not sting, if they are seen in an area, it is safe and best to assume that the more dangerous larvae are nearby or will soon be born. Once in your skin these hairs cause sudden or gradually building pain depending on the specific caterpillar. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 34(1): 67-79. The yellow body is marked with wide black stripe down the back bordered with red at each end. Princeton, New Jersey. Look for them in groups near the base of plants. The genus name Orgyia (Greek for the length of the outstretched arms [Borror 1960]), is based on this pose. (Photo: Sturgis McKeever; Georgia Southern University; Bugwood.org). Stings from this caterpillar are milder than the stings of other stinging caterpillars. White-Marked Tussock Caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma). Heppner (2003) listed plants belonging to 116 genera that have been reported as hosts. The Zebra Longwing ( Heliconius charithonia) butterfly is easy to recognize by the zebra-like pattern on its wings. White feathery spines also stick out from its sides. These insidious creatures spend the winter in cocoons and emerge twice a yearin the spring and fall. American dagger moth caterpillars grow up to 2 (5 cm) long. The tiny brown hairy caterpillars grow up to 1 (2.5 cm). Gainesville, Florida. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. 2003. Puss caterpillars are 2.5 cm long and covered with gray to brown hairs that conceal its head and mouthparts. Goldman et al. Definite tussock moth (Orgyia definita) caterpillar (abdomen). Stinging caterpillars dont sting with a stinger the way wasps or bees do, they have stinging hairs called urticating hairs. In addition, there are four tufts of white or yellow hairs on its back and two red dots at its rear end. 15 pp. Caterpillars of this species feed on plants in the madder family, including pentas.