Saddleback Caterpillar
The Deceivingly Beautiful Saddleback Caterpillar
The saddleback caterpillar is the larvae stage of the saddleback, or packsaddle, moth which is indigenes to the eastern portion of North America. The adult form of this winged insect is large, with a stocky build and a deep brown color. The saddleback caterpillar, on the other hand, is quite phenomenal as a visual specimen, but is not the type of bug that one wants to pluck from a leaf and bring home as a pet. You could do this, but you might want to wear some heavy duty gloves in the process. The venom excreted by a threatened or frightened saddleback caterpillar is likened to that within a bee or wasp sting, and is very unpleasant indeed.
These beautiful yet potentially hazardous caterpillars are short and stout, but brighter in color than the adult moths that they are to become. He has two sets of horns, one set at the front and one set at the rear of his body. These horns are plastered with tiny, releasable hairs. From these hairs the dreaded venom is secreted, and the longer they stay imbedded in your skin the more severe the pain will be. Should you have the misfortune of being mishandled by a saddleback caterpillar, you can remove the tiny hairs by pulling them up quickly with tape. There could be ten or more, so keep lifting the tape on that area until you’re sure that they have all gone.
This caterpillar, as mentioned, is quite a distinctive one as far as his coloring and build. His underside and the edges of his upper body are brown and fuzzy. The saddle on his back, thus his name, is large, perfectly rectangular, green, and smooth. In the middle of this saddle is an oval, lined with white and filled with the same brown color as his bottom. The horrible hairs which adorn his horns and legs give him the fuzzy, cuddly appearance. Do not be deceived; as his sting will certainly bring you back to reality should you decide to mess around with the likes of him.
If you have known sensitivities or allergic reactions to bee or wasp stings, you will want to avoid the saddleback caterpillar with vigor. Should you incidentally be stung by this insect, you will want to watch for potentially dangerous symptoms. Even those who are not reactive to bee stings can experience nausea, headache, and wide spread rash due to the venom of this insect, so caution is of utmost importance. If you wish to study his habits, growth, and metamorphosis, you will want to do so from afar. Capturing him may be more trouble than the educational experience is worth.