Saddleback Caterpillar

📸: Lou Campbell SNP

 

This is a saddleback caterpillar (Acharia stimulea) most known for the striking coloration and pain-inducing spines! These caterpillars are capable of inflicting lasting and painful stings with their spines. Even color patterns are of bright warning colors, or aposematic. This moth larvae shows a variable marking on the posterior end sometimes resembling two eyespots that imitates an abstract facial expression. You can look but don’t touch this small, but mighty creature!

Information courtesy of the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves