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Saddleback Caterpillar

uncommon

Saddleback Caterpillar

Acharia stimulea

Habitat
Deciduous woodland edges, gardens and ornamental shrubs across eastern North America
Body length
25 mm
Order
Lepidoptera · Limacodidae

Weird but real

It wears a lime-green 'saddle' on a purple-brown body and fires venom from spines that snap off in your skin.

Why it's cool

A caterpillar cosplaying as a tiny saddled horse, yet packing one of North America's most painful stings - gorgeous and don't-touch.

Photographs

Cuivre River State Park 7/8/17 Troy, MO Moth Night
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren · CC BY 2.0 · source
Acharia stimulea Clemens, 1960 Common Name: saddleback caterpillar Photographer: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, , United States Contact: Fengyou Jia, Division of Forest Pest Management, DCNR, PA Descriptor: Pupa(e) Image taken in
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, · CC BY 3.0 us · source