Puss Caterpillar / Asp

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

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

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.

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.