poisonous moths florida
it has a 2.8 to 3.9-inch wingspan and is the state butterfly of Florida. They grow around an inch long and can be found throughout Florida. The caterpillar has four sets of black prolegs and three sets of pointed forelegs. The Asp: A Caterpillar That's Dangerous for Pets. The red admiral is a spiky black caterpillar that has identifiable fleshy spines and white tiny dots. The beautiful Io moth, Automeris io (Fabricius), is one of our most recognizable moths. Castor beans, rosary beans and rosary peas all cause similar symptoms, according to the Florida Poison Control Center. Here are 15 species of poisonous caterpillars from around the world. To identify the luna moth caterpillar, look for its brown head, lines of bright red dots running along its light green body, four pairs of large prolegs, and three pairs of brown forelegs. Division of Plant Industry. Buck moths are members of the family Saturniidae, which includes other dangerous insects like the lonomia obliqua. It is yellow-brown to purplish-black with many small white spots and a reddish head. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29(3): 589-601. has been confirmed as a host in Florida, but other host plants are also likely (Heppner 2003). Florida (101) Missouri (101) North Carolina (101) Maryland (99) Michigan (99) Mississippi (99) Nebraska (98) New Hampshire (98) . (Photo: Sturgis McKeever; Georgia Southern University; Bugwood.org). Although tersa sphinx moths sometimes wander as far north as Canada, they mainly live in the tropics and in the southeastern states, from Texas to Florida and into North and South Carolina. It can be challenging to identify some Florida caterpillar species. . Cape Lappet Moth Caterpillar. The four major stinging caterpillars occurring in Florida are the puss caterpillar, saddleback caterpillar, Io moth caterpillar and hag caterpillar. Orgyia detrita has two common color forms in Florida, a dark form and a light form. The caterpillars may be contacted when they drop from the host trees or when they wander from the trees in search of a place to spin their cocoons. Their fluffy "fur" actually hides small, sharp, spines that stick in your skin. Puss caterpillars are 2.5 cm long and covered with gray to brown hairs that conceal its head and mouthparts. The characteristic traits of the eight-spotted forester caterpillar are thick black-spotted orange stripes, tufts of thin spines, and white and black stripes. Pruritic (itching) dermatitis due to tussock moth caterpillars has been reported to be a problem at child day-care centers and elementary schools in Florida (Atrubin et al. Stinging caterpillars dont sting with a stinger the way wasps or bees do, they have stinging hairs called urticating hairs. Medina and Barbosa (2002) looked at predation of small and large Orgyia leucostigma larvae in a temperate forest and suggested that birds were the major predators of large larvae but most mortality of smaller larvae was probably due to failure to find a suitable host during ballooning dispersal and also possibly to predation by invertebrate predators in the leaf litter. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar (Battus philenor). Tobacco hornworm caterpillars grow 2.7 (7 cm) long. Caterpillars of this species feed on plants in the madder family, including pentas. io moth - Automeris io (Fabricius) - University of Florida Most common in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states (Ferguson 1978, Orgyia definita entry at North American Moth Photographers Group web site). Although the fir tussock moth is not a highly familiar moth even to most entomologists, an image of an adult male does appear in a popular design used on ornamental paper, wall art, journal covers, purses, and fabric (Tim Holtz, personal communication). Lonomia, often considered to be the most venomous, is included in this subfamily. Spines are hollow with a toxin gland at the base. The puss caterpillar - one of the most venomous of its kind in the USA - has appeared in Florida, Texas and South Carolina. These caterpillars do not possess stingers, but have spines (nettling hairs) that are connected to poison glands. How to Get Rid of Household Casebearers - bugs.com Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Definite tussock moth (Orgyia definita) caterpillar (front view). Classey, Ltd. London. However, they may occasionally be sufficiently numerous to completely defoliate large trees. 670 pp. Description [ edit] M. opercularis caterpillar on Kent Island, Maryland American dagger moth: What to know about poisonous caterpillars - USA TODAY Here are some mildly poisonous caterpillars that are best to be stayed away from.. American Dagger Moth Acronicta americana. Monkey slug caterpillars have stinging hairs that can cause a painful sting if you handle it. Introduction and Catalog. This appears when the caterpillar is threatened, and it looks like a forked snakes tongue. 1925. The menacing stinging horns at either end of the caterpillar stand at 45. It has numerous common names, including southern flannel moth for its adult form, and puss caterpillar, asp, Italian asp, Fire caterpillar, woolly slug, opossum bug, [3] puss moth, tree asp, or asp caterpillar . Io moth caterpillars grow up to 2.3 (6 cm) in length. Some less common ones also occur in the state. Florida's puss caterpillar is one of the most venomous in US | wtsp.com Orgyia definita: Only willow (Salix sp.) Furthermore, females stay in their protective cases. Large live oak tree defoliated by fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) caterpillars. Goldman L, Sawyer F, Levine A, Goldman J, Goldman S, Spinanger B. Gries R, Khaskin G, Khaskin E, Foltz JL, Schaefer PW, Gries G. 2003. A gulf fritillary caterpillar has distinctive spines poking out from a smooth orange body with a blackish stripe. Severity can vary for each individual. According to a report from the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida, the puss caterpillar and southern flannel moth is found from New Jersey to Florida and west to Arkansas and Texas. 10 Poisonous Butterflies - AZ Animals Preliminary studies of the nuclear-polyhedrosis viruses infecting the white-marked tussock moth, Tussock moth caterpillars in north central Florida, Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico, A classification of the Lepidoptera based on characters of the pupae, Update of Tachinid Names in Arnaud (1978), entry at North American Moth Photographers Group. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Once in your skin these hairs cause sudden or gradually building pain depending on the specific caterpillar. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 12(1): 140. Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida. Cecropia moth caterpillar grows around 4.5 (10 cm) long. Also, caterpillars in Florida can be green, yellow, black, or multi-colored. Pipevine swallowtail caterpillars grow 2 (5 cm) long. Like many hornworm caterpillars, it has an oversized head. The American dagger caterpillar is a hairy pale yellow caterpillar with long black pencil hairs. The flightless females remain on their cocoons and release a sex pheromone to attract males. Early cocoon of fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) before many setae are incorporated. Additionally, there are small clumps of green or orange spines along its back and body. Medical attention may be necessary for more severe reactions. This species is relatively common throughout South Africa and feeds on a wide variety of African plants. Figure 25. ecology, identification and distribution of Caterpillars -- identification guide -- Discover Life. The caterpillar grows 0.5 (1.2 cm) long. Red admiral caterpillars grow 1 (2.5 cm) long. Puss Caterpillar/Southern Flannel Moth Megalopyge opercularis. A comparative study of the poison apparatus of certain lepidopterous larvae. Dermatologic Therapy 22: 353-366. 1968. Figure 21. For a detailed taxonomic history and synonyms, see Ferguson (1978). You can find red admiral caterpillars feeding on stinging nettle leaves. The spiny caterpillar has a dark body with lateral blue bands, yellow lines, and white patches. You can identify luna moth caterpillars feeding on walnut, hickory, birch, and alder trees. Giant leopard caterpillars grow up to 2 (5 cm) long. 2005. Saddleback caterpillars grow up to 1 (2.5 cm) long. 8 Black & Orange Caterpillars That Are Poisonous Woolly Bear Caterpillars and their adult-form, Isabella Tiger Moths, are found in incredibly varied climates, even the Arctic! Petersen Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. 611 pp. These projections have poisonous spines and the sting is a defensive mechanism to prevent predators from eating them. Figure 24. In the year 2000, only 70 of 730 (9.6%) cocoons he examined had egg masses suggesting a high rate of mortality. Its instantly recognizable feature is the large eye markings on its head. Goldman et al. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. Orgyia detrita is univoltine (one generation per year) while the other two species are bivoltine in Florida (Foltz 2006). The caterpillar is also mildly toxic to birds and other predators. 38 Common Caterpillars in Florida (Pictures And Identification) Its bright green and yellow colors and black stripes act to ward off predators. Definite tussock moth (Orgyia definita) caterpillar (abdomen). American dagger moth caterpillars grow up to 2 (5 cm) long. Stinging Caterpillars - Poison Center Tampa Health and safety-wise, moths pose no harm or threat to humans - they are neither poisonous nor dangerous. The American dagger moth caterpillar is covered in yellow feathery spines with two pairs of long black spines on its back and a single black tuft of pencil-like hairs at its rear. The identifiable traits of the polyphemus moth caterpillar are a bright green, almost translucent body and rows of bright red or silver spiny dots around its segments. Pictures of four poisonous caterpillars in Florida - Sun Sentinel You will also notice a red and white stripe along each side. IFAS Extension. The unusual caterpillar has a light green and brown body with white blotches. White Admiral Caterpillar (Limenitis arthemis). Figure 14. At first I thought they looked like Atala caterpillars, but as we both know, we are too far north and on the wrong coast. The azalea caterpillar is a black caterpillar with bright green bands around its plump, smooth body. Browntail moths are most common along Maine's coast . Be prepared to tell them which plant and which part of the plant was eaten, how much was consumed and whether there are any immediate symptoms. Cecropia Moth Caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia). Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. Luna moth caterpillars have a characteristic habit of raising the front part of their body. One of the unusual caterpillars youll find in Florida is the cecropia moth caterpillar. cocoons under eaves of building. A stinging rose caterpillar has a yellow or red body with characteristic spiked horns on its back and a band of purple stripes. Bagworm Moth Insect Facts - AZ Animals