…and this is a 
Is there an entomologist in the house?
Category: Organisms
Posted on: July 26, 2006 9:45 PM, by PZ Myers
I got a request to help identify this bizarre creature. I'm guessing it's a slug caterpillar, from the family Limacodidae, although I couldn't possibly narrow it down further, and could be completely wrong. Whoever was filming it can be heard telling someone not to touch it—which is a good idea. These things shed fine hairs that can cause a painful allergic rash.
It's kind of cute, anyway.
I think the collective wisdom of the internets has convinced me that it is a puss caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis.
Comments
Posted by: Cyde Weys | July 26, 2006 9:53 PM
Whatever that is, I want one.
Posted by: Monado | July 26, 2006 10:01 PM
It looks like something from the Burgess Shale!
Thus completely disproving evolution, ya know. (wink)
"Slug caterpillars bear little resemblance to the typical caterpillar. The head is hidden within the thorax; thoracic legs are reduced; and prolegs are modified to sucker-like lobes without crochets. Movement is slow, gliding, slug-like. Most species tend to be solitary feeders... Several species of slug caterpillars possess urticating setae or spines."
Photos of slug caterpillars and others are here but nothing that looks quite like the image -- perhaps Photo 7 or the Flannel Moth?
"stinging caterpillars bear specialized nettling or urticaceous setae or spines. These structures are hollow and contain toxins from poison-gland cells to which they are joined. These are primarily defensive structures for protection of caterpillars from predators and other enemies. The sting inflicted on humans is not from a deliberate attack by the caterpillar, but the result of contact, usually inadvertent, with toxin-bearing setae or spines. When brushed against, these structures break away, releasing toxins. In some cases, broken setae may penetrate the skin; in others, toxins spill out to spread on the surface of the skin."
Posted by: Monado | July 26, 2006 10:06 PM
It might be a monkey-slug caterpillar. This one looks more like the video than the one in the previous link.
Posted by: Julie Stahlhut | July 26, 2006 10:10 PM
A limacodid was the first thing I thought of as well. If it is, the warning about not touching it was good advice.
Posted by: Monado | July 26, 2006 10:11 PM
This one looks like an alien about to give a speech.
Posted by: antid_oto | July 26, 2006 10:32 PM
Try WhatsThatBug.com.
Posted by: Rachel | July 26, 2006 11:20 PM
It's the brown morph of the puss caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis, family Megalopygidae. The adult is known as the Southern Flannel Moth due to it's dense hair covering. Most of the time, they are blonder, but brown and even white morphs are not unknown.
Posted by: noname | July 26, 2006 11:29 PM
Ask these people:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/
Posted by: decrepitoldfool | July 26, 2006 11:48 PM
Maybe this would be a place to ask if anyone knows the identity of the wierd little flies I saw in my backyard a couple weeks ago.
Posted by: Ken | July 26, 2006 11:59 PM
I thought you made up the name slug caterpillar, because if I were asked to name it, slug caterpillar is probably what I would come up with. Maybe "slugerpillar."
Posted by: tsiatko | July 27, 2006 12:52 AM
Its a yog-saggoth larvae, do not disturb
Posted by: craig | July 27, 2006 1:52 AM
It appears that the video was originally posted here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeNggIGSKH8
and that the person whose house it was at is commenting, saying they were told it was a puss caterpillar.
They also say "This is a caterpillar that Andrew found on the patio. When you touch it, it rolls up into a ball. He says it is a "Puss" caterpillar. Our God is astounding in the variety he put into creation."
Sheesh. Of course, their user name contains the word Miami, so it's not surprising - there's an epidemic of fundies down here.
Posted by: D. Sidhe | July 27, 2006 1:58 AM
Got kind of a Pokemon look to it, actually.
Posted by: iant | July 27, 2006 5:32 AM
That's easy. It's Dougal from the Magic Roundabout.
Posted by: Shadesong | July 27, 2006 6:04 AM
In the words of a friend of mine: "This is probably a Megalopyge opercularis larva, which will fuck you right up if you touch it. All those cute fuzzy hairs are hollow and filled with venom. Don't touch these, ever."
Posted by: Swintah | July 27, 2006 7:13 AM
Too bad it's poisonous - 'cause it would be the cutest pet EVAR!1!
It's totally within "God's" character to make something absolutely adoreable and pet-worthy, yet dangerous. e.g. Baby albino cobras, bear cubs, ewoks, etc.
Posted by: Guhru | July 27, 2006 7:25 AM
This is the greatest discovery of all times! Consider the fact that puss caterpillar evolved to resemble cute tiny fluffy Persian cat. This makes people instantly want to pick it up and pet it. Now consider the fact that it is one of the most dangerous caterpillars. How possibly could something so ironic and bizarre evolve by itself? This is not only the ultimate proof for existence of intelligent designer but at the same time it sheds so much light on his nature!
Posted by: Julie Stahlhut | July 27, 2006 7:40 AM
There are some good photos of Megalopyge at BugGuide.Net:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/4476
The adults are very pretty too.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/4476
Posted by: Evan Murdock | July 27, 2006 8:08 AM
Yesterday I never would have thought I could read, and take seriously, the phrase "it is one of the most dangerous caterpillars"
Just saying.
Sure is cute.
Posted by: xebecs | July 27, 2006 8:53 AM
It looks like something from the Burgess Shale!
My first thought was Opabinia, but this picture I found proves that my visual memory sucks.
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/shale/popabin.htm
I would buy a stuffed Opabinia in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Catana | July 27, 2006 9:15 AM
Aint' nature great? Having lived in south Florida much of my life, I saw way too many of these "cute" critters. It's almost as if they're designed to be touched, with that furry-appearing surface. This is not a Puss to play with.
Posted by: ROF | July 27, 2006 11:24 AM
Holy Puss! This critter gets around!
Mikhaela puts puss in Ann Coulter's mouth -- sorta.
o
o
Posted by: coturnix | July 27, 2006 11:34 AM
Any commentary on this paper on HoxD etc.?
Posted by: Unstable Isotope | July 27, 2006 8:25 PM
That's a pretty cool bug, if it's not in your house.