Puss Caterpillar / Asp

Natural Habitat

Found on oaks, elms, citrus, and other garden trees and shrubs throughout the southern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America.

Diet & Feeding

The larvae feed on the foliage of various broadleaf trees and shrubs, including oaks, elms, hackberry, maple, and sycamore.

Behavior Patterns

This larva is slow-moving and solitary. It is covered in long, dense, fur-like setae (hairs) that camouflage it well. It pupates in a tough, silken cocoon often on the trunk of a tree.

Risks & Benefits

High Risk: This is one of the most venomous caterpillars in North America. Hidden beneath its soft-looking fur are venomous spines. Contact causes instant, intense pain, swelling, nausea, and sometimes more severe reactions requiring medical attention. Benefit: It serves as a food source for some predators and eventually metamorphoses into the Southern Flannel Moth.

Identified on: 3/4/2026