Do caterpillars bite?

What happens if you touch a stinging caterpillar? It hurts! The reaction depends on the caterpillar, the severity of the contact, and the person's own immune system. You'll feel some stinging, itching, or burning. You might get a rash, or even some nasty pustules or lesions. read more

While caterpillars are cute and fun to watch, they also have the potential to sting you badly. Caterpillar stings can cause minor symptoms or they can initiate a potentially dangerous allergic reaction. read more

Though most are harmless, the stinging caterpillars let you know they don't like to be touched. Stinging caterpillars share a common defensive strategy to dissuade predators. All have urticating setae, which are barbed spines or hairs. Each hollow setae funnels poison from a special glandular cell. read more

Caterpillars, the larvae of butterflies and moths, come in many shapes and sizes. Though most are harmless, the stinging caterpillars let you know they don't like to be touched. Stinging caterpillars share a common defensive strategy to dissuade predators. All have urticating setae, which are barbed spines or hairs. read more

Caterpillar stings can cause minor symptoms or they can initiate a potentially dangerous allergic reaction. To treat caterpillar stings, you need to clean the site of the sting, treat the symptoms of the sting, and consult a medical professional if symptoms become severe. In the end, you will recover more easily from your caterpillar sting. read more