#archaria stimulea

Saddleback caterpillar. (Acharia stimulea)

Look at this little dude. Just look.

Isn’t he just the most adorable little guy ever? It’s like someone put a sweater vest on a swiss roll. I bet you just want to pick him up and give him a pat on the back for being such a cutie pie, right? …Right?

WRONG.

DO NOT DO THAT. DO NOT. NOPE.

Do not let the sweater vest fool you, this guy does NOT MESS AROUND. You see all those spines? They are jam PACKED with venom and will break off and lodge into whatever was daft enough to touch it. It will even arch is back around to get as many spines into you as possible.

The venom in the spines can cause migraines, nausea and a painful, swollen rash. Which is never something you want.

Native to the eastern USA, the saddleback caterpillar also secretes a semi-fluid silk, providing a super-adhesive bond to what it’s standing on.

So,a) It won’t budge from whatever it’s on, and b) It will literally turn around and stab you with venomous spines if you try.

These caterpillars are pretty intense. Do not touch them, because nobody wants to explain to their friends that the reason their hand has blown up like a balloon is because a caterpillar(wearing knitwear) stabbed them.

Image:Mary Keim