About this Caterpillar:
The stinging hag moth caterpillar is sometimes called the monkey slug, which seems a suitable name when you see what it looks like. It's hard to believe this is even a caterpillar, quite frankly. The monkey slug can be identified instantly by its furry-looking "arms," which sometimes fall off. But beware – this cuddly caterpillar is really covered in tiny stinging setae.Where It's Found:
Fields and forests, from Florida to Arkansas, and north to Quebec and Maine.What It Eats:
Apple, cherry, persimmon, walnut, chestnut, hickory, oak, willow, birch, and other woody trees and shrubs.Group:
Slug Caterpillars (Family Limacodidae)Sources:
- Caterpillars of Eastern North America by David L. Wagner
- Stinging Caterpillars: A Guide to Recognition of Species Found on Alabama Trees