Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar

Found in forests, fields, and gardens throughout North America

Broadleaf plants including dandelion, plantain, violets, honeysuckle, and various deciduous trees

Active in late summer and fall; they over-winter as caterpillars and are known to curl into a tight ball when threatened, revealing red rings between their segments

Unlike many fuzzy caterpillars, they are generally not venomous and do not sting, but their stiff hairs can cause mild skin irritation for sensitive individuals; they benefit the ecosystem as pollinators in their adult moth stage