Nature lovers beware—sometimes the “cutest” looking caterpillars, the fuzzy kind that curious children want to touch, may pack a painful “punch.” A few kinds of caterpillars in Texas carry irritating or venomous hairs, and since there was an abundance of spring foliage this year in North Texas due to all the rain, North Texans may see an abundance of all kinds of caterpillars this summer and fall.
AgriLife Extension experts say that while stinging caterpillars at first stay hidden in leaves, they leave in search of a spot to pupate, and may do this sometimes by simply dropping out of trees. They note that perhaps the most painful caterpillar sting in Texas comes from the southern flannel moth caterpillar, a.k.a. the asp or puss caterpillar. A brush with one can lead to a rash and other issues, and may even require a trip to the hospital.
Check out this article for more information.
