Salt marsh
caterpillars are larvae of a moth in the Family Arctiidae. This species has many color variations from
black with orangish-red markings to pale yellow to reddish-brown. Caterpillars are generally lighter in color
and darken with age. The body is covered
with tufted hairs, or setae.
Some people
also commonly call these caterpillars woolly bear caterpillars (there are
numerous species of moths that can be called woolly bears). The caterpillars are often called woolly
bears because of the numerous bristly hairs that project off the body.
The
caterpillars are generalists and feed on broad-leafed plants. They usually feed as a group when they are
young, but as they grow older and larger they tend to disperse. As they become full grown, they begin to wander
away from the host plant to find a protected
site where they can spin a cocoon.
 |
| Salt marsh caterpillar a.k.a. woolly bear. |
Populations
of salt marsh caterpillars are typically highest in the fall and are often seen
in large numbers wandering across driveways or roadways. Wandering may be to find other food sources
when old sources are consumed or it could be caterpillars in search of a
protected place to pupate.
The stinging
capability or irritation that hairs may cause seems to be in debate in
entomological circles. Some
entomologists claim that woolly bears can sting you or irritate your skin while
others say that they cannot. I think
that it probably comes down to skin sensitivity. While I haven’t had problems handling woolly
bears, it doesn’t mean that everyone has no reaction; others may have
sensitivity to the caterpillar hairs.
Basically the take home lesson is to always be careful when handling a
wild animal since you never can predict what may happen.
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