Puss Caterpillar (Southern Flannel Moth Caterpillar)

Natural Habitat

Found in deciduous forests, parks, and gardens throughout the Southern United States, parts of Mexico, and Central America; commonly found on oak, elm, and citrus trees.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; feeds on the leaves of various broadleaf trees and shrubs including oak, elm, wild rose, and ivy.

Behavior Patterns

Larval stage of the flannel moth; it is covered in a thick coat of long, hair-like setae that give it a woolly appearance. It moves slowly and pupates in a tough, oval cocoon often attached to twigs.

Risks & Benefits

Highly venomous; the 'hairs' hide sharp, venomous spines that cause intense pain, swelling, and systemic symptoms in humans upon contact. To the ecosystem, they serve as a food source for some specialized predators and eventually become pollinating moths.

Identified on: 4/25/2026