611 pp. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar (Battus philenor). It is common in Florida during the fall and spring on oak and elm trees and was recently sighted in Clermont, Florida, according to FOX 35 News. Also, they are commonly spun in dense masses among the foliage of epiphytic bromeliads (Tillandsia spp.). Mature female fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) pupa. Part 1. Common hosts in other parts of its range include oak, maple, hackberry, birch, and willow (Wagner 2005). Despite its ugly appearance, the brown and white caterpillar turns into a spectacular butterfly with iridescent blue and orange colors. The polyphemus moth caterpillar is a type of green, silk-spinning caterpillar found in Florida. There is also a row of stinging spines around its abdomen. Others, like that of the Black Widow, cause vomiting and diarrhea, paralysis, drunken gait, and muscle tremors. Florida (101) Missouri (101) North Carolina (101) Maryland (99) Michigan (99) Mississippi (99) Nebraska (98) New Hampshire (98) . Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida. (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.) The oblong appearance and fuzzy spines make it difficult to identify the head end from its tail end. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Unlike other caterpillars in this list, Diprion pini is not from the moth or butterfly order Lepidoptera. They might look cute and fuzzy, but don't let their innocuous appearance fool you. Another feature of the tobacco hornworm caterpillar is its rear horn, which is brown, green, or orange. To identify poisonous Florida caterpillars, look for a fuzzy body with stinging spines. Imperial Moth Caterpillar (Eacles imperialis). 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. Because they will eat almost anything, including herbs, tree leaves, and grasses, they can be found pretty much anywhere plants are growing. Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company. The long-tailed skipper caterpillar is a large green slug-like caterpillar with rings of yellow dots around its segments and lateral greenish-yellow green lines running the length of its back. Most of the urticating hairs are in the dorsal tussocks of the caterpillars (Knight 1922), but a few are also found on the lateral verrucae and intermingled with the black plume hairs of the hair pencils (Gilmer 1925). Lyle Buss, senior biological scientist at the University of Florida, explained to Tampa Bay Times that most stings are harmless, only producing a rash. Meghan Overdeep has more than a decade of writing and editing experience for top publications. Tussocks of the fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita). The fuzzy caterpillars congregate en masse on apple trees, as well as willow, oak, elm, birch, and maple trees. In Florida, youll often find the white admiral caterpillar feeding on willow, aspen, cherry, and birch trees. Poisonous glands attached to stinging spines can cause skin irritation if you handle this fuzzy caterpillar. There are butterflies who also take nectar or, in rare cases, pollen from poisonous plants. The spiny caterpillar has a dark body with lateral blue bands, yellow lines, and white patches. Cocoons & Pupae: Cocoons are constructed of silk and setae from the caterpillars. Learn all about garden moths: important pollinators. Older larvae are leaf-edge feeders. A few common hosts include oak, cherry, hackberry, and willow. The characteristic trait of this furry caterpillar is a wide rusty brown band around a black body. Orgyia leucostigma: Entire eastern U.S. and west to Minnesota and Texas (Ferguson 1978, Orgyia leucostigma entry at North American Moth Photographers Group web site). has been confirmed as a host in Florida, but other host plants are also likely (Heppner 2003). Look closely at the monarch caterpillar, and youll notice white dots on its prolegs and black forelegs. Caterpillars are the larvae of moths and butterflies. They are a common sight in backyards all over Florida, and can even provide benefits to your garden. The spiny caterpillars can be yellow or orange-red and have a distinctive band of thin purple stripes along their back. Fir tussock moth (light and dark forms), Orgyia detrita, and whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma, caterpillars. Tachinid puparium from Orgyia sp. Pupae appear hairy and have patches of dorsal spatulate setae (vesicles of Mosher 1916) on abdominal segments 1-3. 2009. Figure 25. White Admiral Caterpillar (Limenitis arthemis). Southern Flannel Caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis). The monkey slug caterpillar is one of the most unusual brown hairy caterpillars youll find in Florida. The evolving global epidemiology, syndromic classification, management, and prevention of caterpillar envenoming. 2009. Pictures of four poisonous caterpillars in Florida. Some less common ones also occur in the state. Buck moths are members of the family Saturniidae, which includes other dangerous insects like the lonomia obliqua. He has suggested that levels of parasitism of pupae often approach 50 per cent (Foltz 2004, 2006). The caterpillar is also mildly toxic to birds and other predators. In Florida, there are two generations of puss caterpillars a year, one in spring and the other in fall. Those infected with nuclear polyhedrosis virus typically die in a characteristic pose - hanging limp by their prolegs. Palo Alto, California. Redhumped Caterpillar (Schizura concinna). 2003. There are also blue circular patterns on its segments. As the imperial moth caterpillar goes through its instars, it gradually becomes darker and hairier. Orgyia leucostigma was formerly placed in the genus Hemerocampa. The southern flannel caterpillar also has the common name puss caterpillar because it looks like a Persian cat. Four poisonous species of caterpillars have been found in South Florida: the saddleback, puss, io and the hag. Figure 22. Florida Journal of Environmental Health 195: 14-17. Cabbage looper caterpillars grow up to 1.5 (4 cm). 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. Fir tussock moth caterpillar (Orgyia detrita) parasitized by wasps. A buck moth caterpillar is easy to identify by its black color, masses of white tiny spots, and jaggy appearance. Gilmer (1925) conducted histological studies of the urticating setae of Orgyia leucostigma and found that each seta has a venom gland at its base. Io moth caterpillars grow to be 6.5 cm long; they are pale green with a white and a red strip down the length of their bodies. Puss Caterpillar/Southern Flannel Moth Megalopyge opercularis. Polyphemus moth caterpillars have a bright green, plump body with bright red dots in bumps around each segment. Used with permission. Orgyia sp. Most types of moths are only poisonous if they're consumed.. The menacing stinging horns at either end of the caterpillar stand at 45. . When touched, the poisonous spines break off in the skin and cause severe pain. White Flannel Moth Caterpillar (Norape ovina) The mature white flannel moth caterpillar can reach 1-1/4 inch in length. 1. The sub-dorsal areas (sides) can be a dark gray as in Figures 1 and 2, or they can be light gray to light yellow as in Figure 3. From its back this caterpillar has a tail that extends beyond its body. Figure 12. They emerge from eggs bright yellow and gradually become green during each stage. This is a defensive characteristic of some caterpillars to scare off predators. The identifiable features of the black swallowtail are its green body with black, yellow-dotted bands around each of its segments. Mature puss caterpillars begin to spin their cocoons by making a thin framework of silk using their hair covering as support. 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). 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). Larvae: Larvae are 1-1.5 inches in length. Figure 27. 15 pp. Yellow Florida Forester Moth Caterpillar (Zygaenidae). The spines have toxin glands at their base, the toxin is released when the spines make contact with skin. Caterpillars hatch from eggs and develop into worm-like crawling insects with four sets of prolegs, six forelegs, and a segmented body. Queen Butterfly Caterpillar (Danaus gilippus). 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. The cloudless sulphur caterpillar is a light green caterpillar with black raised dots producing small spines. The caterpillar grows up to 2 (5 cm) long. When human skin or those of pets are exposed to these excretions, it results in allergic reactions and in other cases . 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. Caterpillars of this species feed on plants in the madder family, including pentas. These larvae are about 2 inches long. The stinging rose moth caterpillar is a colorful venomous caterpillar found along the east coast from New York to Florida. Arnaud (1978, pp. These caterpillars feed on a large variety of plants but are most commonly found on citrus, oaks, and elms. Identify the long-tailed skipper caterpillar by its black ball-like head, yellow markings on its body in the form of lines and dots, and orange prolegs. Once in your skin these hairs cause sudden or gradually building pain depending on the specific caterpillar. The literature frequently describes the females as being wingless. This green Florida caterpillar has a pale-yellow stripe running along its sides. In Florida, youll find this small, slender black and orange caterpillar munching through Passiflora plant foliage. Stinging rose larvae measure about 1 (2.5 cm) long. Photographs by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Definite tussock moth (Orgyia definita) caterpillar (abdomen). Caterpillars of the mottled cup moth, commonly found in eastern Australia, have a complex venom made up of 151 separate toxins, according to new research published in the journal PNAS. These are barbed bristles or spines that can lodge in your skin and break off. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. The eye markings are black dots with a white center and light green ring around it. While most butterflies and moths are likely non-toxic to hungry humans, a few species -- like the familiar monarch butterfly (Family Nymphalidae) -- feed on poisonous or unpalatable plants as larvae. In the event of a possible plant poisoning, call your physician, veterinarian or Florida Poison Control (1-800-222-1222). Puss caterpillars are 2.5 cm long and covered with gray to brown hairs that conceal its head and mouthparts. An identifiable trait of this jaggy-looking caterpillar is its two long black horns on its head. The 14 poisonous caterpillars that we are going to discuss are: Puss Caterpillar Saddleback Caterpillar Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar Io Moth Caterpillar Bag Shelter Caterpillar Monarch Caterpillars Hag Moth Caterpillar Hickory Tussock Caterpillar Pine Processionary Caterpillar Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar Stinging Rose Caterpillar Lonomia Obliqua Last year, the Florida Poison Centers got 393 calls about people stung by. Its common name, "the Asp," is a reflection of the painful intensity of the stingthis is a caterpillar with the painful "bite" of a hornet. Figure 31. It has numerous common names, including southern flannel moth for its adult form, and puss caterpillar, asp, Italian asp, Fire caterpillar, woolly slug, opossum bug, [3] puss moth, tree asp, or asp caterpillar . Look for them in groups near the base of plants.