Spotting a fuzzy caterpillar along a garden path can seem charming, but that soft-looking coat can hide defensive hairs and spines that trigger painful skin reactions. These creatures are the immature stages of moths and butterflies, and as they grow rapidly, they rely on sensory bristles and stinging hairs to help protect them from natural predators. What appears to be a harmless brush against one of these insects can quickly turn unpleasant once those tiny structures make contact with exposed skin.
Contact with harmful caterpillar species can lead to burning
