Landscape - Puss Caterpillars

There are numerous stinging caterpillars in the landscape that landscape workers may be exposed to. One recently in the news is the puss caterpillar. The following is a picture and some information.

There are several species of slug-like caterpillars that have poisonous spines. Slug caterpillars are short and stocky and creep about on leaves in a slug-like manner. The head and legs are not visible. Typically, there is one generation per year with the grown larvae found in the late summer. The puss caterpillar is one of these slug-like caterpillars.

The Puss Caterpillar is covered with a dense woolly coat of soft brown hair, with tail-like hairs at the rear end. Beneath the hairs are numerous short poisonous spines that can cause severe irritation. They are often found feeding on various trees and shrubs, including elm, maple, hack berry, oak, sycamore and others. Young caterpillars often feed in groups. Sting severity increases with size of caterpillar. Puss caterpillar stings are often more severe than those of other caterpillars.

Puss caterpillar. Note the long hairs that look tail-like at the rear.

Different color variation of the puss caterpillar. Photo from the University of Maryland TPM/IPM Newsletter.

Information taken from "Stinging Caterpillars" by Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County