Monkey Slug (Caterpillar of the Hag Moth)

Found in deciduous forests and orchards, often on the undersides of leaves of trees such as oak, cherry, apple, and ash.

The caterpillar feeds on the foliage of various woody host plants, including oak, hickory, birch, apple, and willow.

Notable for its lateral, hairy, arm-like appendages that make it resemble a clump of debris or a dead leaf. It moves with a slow, slug-like gliding motion rather than a typical caterpillar crawl.

Risk: This is a stinging caterpillar. Contact with its hairs can cause skin irritation, redness, and a painful rash in humans. Benefit: It serves as a food source for some predatory insects and contributes to local forest biodiversity.