Learn / Ask The Landscape Professional
I found this bug on a Hosta leaf. What in the world is it? Alice, Old Lyme
Answer
What you have is a saddleback
caterpillar, Acharia stimulea. The caterpillar is the
larva of a species of slug moth native to eastern
United States and it is found from Massachusetts
to Florida.
Even though they are beautiful caterpillars, they
are covered with strong, hollow spines or hairs that
are connected to poison glands beneath their skin
that are loaded with venom. Saddleback caterpillars
are the second most venomous caterpillar in
North America and not to be taken lightly. If the
spines touch you, you will experience intense pain
(worse than a bee sting) and possibly a host of other reactions such as swelling, rash, nausea
and migraines. If you are allergic to bee stings, contact your physician immediately. Try to get
the spines out of your skin right away to minimize the venom spread - sometimes adhesive tape
can help get them out. Also, be aware the spines can fall off the caterpillar and get on surrounding
objects like chairs and tablecloths so be careful to clean up around where they've been. The
spines easily penetrate garden gloves and long pants, so be very observant when working in
your garden!
In this area, each female saddleback caterpillar
moth lays 30-50 eggs in June and July and after
about ten days the caterpillars hatch. It takes about
4 months for them to reach full size, which is why
you might notice them best in the fall. You can find
these caterpillars on virtually any tree or plant.
Know what saddlebacks look like and look but don't touch!
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
