Yellow Bear Caterpillar

Gardens, fields, meadows, and open woodlands where broadleaf plants grow

Polyphagous herbivore, feeding on the foliage of a wide variety of herbaceous plants, vegetables, and garden crops

Active crawler that curls into a tight ball when disturbed. It pupates inside a silk cocoon mixed with its own body hairs and overwinters as a pupa before emerging as the Virginian Tiger Moth.

Risks include feeding on garden crops and foliage, causing minor cosmetic or agricultural damage. The hairs can also cause mild skin irritation or contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.