any clue on what this little guy is?

[addy1]

I was working on my weather station, straddling the fence, my leg start burning like a wasp sting. Found out I was rubbing against this pretty little caterpillar. Hurt like all get out. Leg a tiny bit red, took a few hours for the stinging to quit.

 

[Mmathis]

No idea, but I'll try to look it up. Looks like it's wearing a tunic!


What is that he's eating? That might be a clue.

 

[Big Lou]

That stinging catapiller is a saddleback moth caterpillar, Sibine stimuli.

http://www.arkinspace.com/2011/05/stinging-caterpillars-of-united-states.html

 

[addy1]

He/she is eating a piece of crocosmia, growing along the fence. I never thought to look for anything on the plants. Do now! I brought it inside in case I had a bad reaction, at least we would have a clue what did it.

 

[Mmathis]

Ahhh, Lou beat me to it! Saddleback caterpillar

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/medical/saddleback_caterpillar.htm

 

[addy1]

Wow thanks you two, I put some unkers on it, helped take the sting out. I use that stuff every time I get bee stung, so far takes the pain and swelling away

Turning the sucker loose, right back where it came from.

 

[Big Lou]

We lost a lovely flowering garden plant to big green grasshoppers. Even after dusting the creatures returned time after time to this one plant. I cut the plant back to the grown yesterday. Seemed like putting it out of its misery.

 

[addy1]

We have some huge grasshoppers, but just like crickets etc, not a ton. Everything has decreased with the build of the pond. We used to walk outside and the patio would be covered by black crickets, now hardly see any.

Maybe it will come back after the grasshopper invasion is over.

 

[Big Lou]

The plague of crickets is annual due to weather. The following article provides a good explanation.

http://www.wptv.com/news/local-news...helms-oklahoma-towns-with-millions-of-insects

 

[addy1]

Like they say a feast for all those other critters! Free buffet!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I've heard about these before but don't know anyone who's seen them. Such a cool caterpillar, even though it can sting.

 

[j.w]

Yep cool looking creature but ouch on the pain he gave ya! He doesn't turn into anything too fancy:

 

[addy1]

It gets to live, still in the jar, need to return it to the plants. Even if not a pretty adult, must be good for something.

All I know is that sucker hurt like a yellow jacket stinging. That is what I thought I had been stung by.

 

[j.w]

Moths do pollinate stuff too and of course they are food for the birdies. Glad it gets to live

 

[Dave 54]

Thank god most of ours arent that bad in the UK and sting you , though they are poisonous they dont harm us humans, if you must feed your fish caterpiller's smooth ones only in the UK
Cute little guy thoug addy

Dave