A question about Caterpillars

Factual Questions
1

Hi ,
A 2 part question about “Wooly Bear,” caterpillars.

1; What Butterfly does the “Wooly Bear,” become?
2; Is the “Wooly Bear,” poisonous?

                                  NadaHappyCamper
                                                    :confused:
2

The Wooly Bear caterpillar is the larva of the Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella. The caterpillar’s spines are irritating.

3

Hm. I was never irritated by a wooly bear’s spines. Is this an individual thing?

In any case, they’re nothing like an asp, which stings like a mofo. Though I do want to make a coat out of the moth’s wings

4

I don’t know how general it is. The spines of most “fuzzy” caterpillars are at least somewhat irritating; that’s why they have them.

5

Chemically, stingingly irritating? I always assumed the woolly bear’s woolliness was just, say, “mechanically” irrititating to a bird’s throat. Too fuzzy for comfort. Is that a possibility? Any cite that a woolly bear’s hairs are stingy?

6

Here’s one list of stinging caterpillars; it doesn’t include WBs. I’ve had runins with the IOs, and I’ve seen the Hags, but have never encountered the others.

7

Here’s a list of stinging caterpillars that does include woolly bears. Many sites indicate that the hairs of Woolly Bears are irritating; some mention that they are only so to sensitive individuals.

8

Hmmm. I saw a wooly bear just on Saturday, stroked him a little bit. He was indifferent to it. No ill effects on my part.

I used to play with 'em when I was a kid, too. Maybe some people are just more sensitive than others.

9

Hm.

K.

Do we know the mechanism, the chemical? or is there no chemical; just mechanically irritating, like fiberglass?

No effect on me. I’m allergic to bees, but immune to poison ivy. Not that that’s relevant . . .