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Photo#30760
Stinging caterpillar - Norape ovina

Stinging caterpillar - Norape ovina
Mebane, Orange County, North Carolina, USA
September 5, 2005
Size: 1 - 2 inches
I found these caterpillars on a Forest Pansy Red Bud tree, and they were also on a nearby Eastern Redbud, but I haven't seen them on any other plants or trees. They have a potent sting that left little red spots that seem to correspond to the yellow bumps down the dorsal black stripe. They have lots of hair-like projections from these nodules (somewhat visible in the closeup, out of focus photo). I'm just curious to know what they are -- the closest thing I've seen is Stinging Rose Caterpillar Moth (Parasa indetermina), but it doesn't really fit.

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Stinging caterpillar - Norape ovina Stinging caterpillar - Norape ovina

Megalopygidae
You are close, but it's the family next door. This is the larva to the White Flannel Moth, Norape ovina, Hodges# 4650. I'll be putting a book out later this year on stinging caterpillars of these and the slug moths. primary food plant is redbud, but look on Mimosa, Beech, Locust, and Hackberry as well.

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