Are woolly bear caterpillars poisonous?

Answer 1

There are actually several different species that are called 'woolly bear caterpillars' in different parts of the country.

In some areas, it usually refers to Pyrrharctia isabella, also known as the Isabella tiger moth.

Out west where I live, the name woolly bear is usually used to refer to the larva of the spotted tiger moth (also sometimes called the spotted tussock moth) Lophocampa maculata.

In other areas, another type of tiger moth, Isia isabella is called the woolly bear.

There may very well be others, as it seems that pretty much any hairy, fuzzy caterpillar with a band of colour in the middle gets called 'woolly bear'.

With the various tiger moth larvae mentioned above, the caterpillar is not poisonous in the sense of having a toxin in its body that affects those who ingest the caterpillar, however they do have stiff, spine-like hairs covering their body. These spines bear microscopic hooks, barbs and pointy bits, and have a tendency to poke through soft flesh (like inside a predator's mouth), and often break off. As you can imagine, this is not a terribly pleasant sensation for the predator.

For some people, their hands are sensitive enough that they get rashes and intense burning and itching from handling these caterpillars (I don't have a problem with these caterpillars, but get incredible itching from the similar hairs shed by tarantulas).

A few species of caterpillar (not these particular ones, but there are some that could be called woolly bears in some parts) also have chemicals that are injected along with the spiky, poky hairs. Some of these can be incredibly painful irritants, and even touching these caterpillars is like sticking your hand in burning acid.

So while 'woolly bears' might not technically be poisonous, I still wouldn't recommend popping one in your mouth.

Answer 2

The common moth Pyrrharctia isabella is known by different common names at its two main life stages. The adult is the Isabella tiger moth and the larva is called the banded woolly bear. The larvae of many species of Arctiid moths are called "woolly bears" because of their long, thick, furlike setae. This species is black at both ends with a band of coppery red in the middle. The adult moth is dull yellow to orange with a robust, furry thorax and small head. Its wings have sparse black spotting and the proximal segments on its first pair of legs are bright reddish-orange.

The banded woolly bear larva emerges from the egg in the fall and overwinters in its caterpillar form. It survives winter freezes by producing a cryoprotectant in its tissues. Once the weather warms, the larva devours all the grass and weeds it can, pupates, and becomes an adult, which then lives through the summer. It is the larvae of this species which are the subject of common folklore, which has it that the forthcoming severity of a winter can be predicted by the amount of black on the caterpillar; this is the most familiar woolly bear in North America. As with many such folk tales, there is little or no truth to the legend; larvae produced in the same clutch of eggs can vary from mostly red to mostly black, even when reared under the same conditions, and this variability invalidates any actual temperature-related trends that may otherwise be evident.

The setae of the woolly bear are not urticant, but they will play dead if picked up or disturbed.

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 3

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RE:
Are woolly bear caterpillars poisonous?

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Answer 5

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Answer 6

Black And Brown Caterpillar

Answer 7

I live in NH, and it s fall. I had one crawl up my pant leg and I had accidentally smashed it into my skin and now I have an itchy rash, it s been 4 days now and not gotten better. I d say that some people will react to them. I m pretty much just treating it with anti itch spray and hoping my body heals itself :p

Answer 8

I am not totally accurate about those Wooly Caterpillars, but this much I do know. There is one species in Georgia that is furry and if you brush up against it, you will break out in a painful rash and inflammation of the skin.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

I accidentally leaned back on one of these, now I have red spots that look like bittes. They are very itchy, any suggestions. Wondering if I should be concerned. Can anyone help?