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Taturana-gatinho (Puss Caterpillar)
Podalia orsilocha (Cramer, 1775)
-22.5376, -43.2285
Field Notes
Description:
"Taturana-gatinho" is one of the names given in Brazil for this kind of caterpillars of the Megalopygidae family. The critter shown above had about 70mm long and during one month (photo 1 - January 18; photo 2 - January 25; photo 3 - February 7; photo 4 - February 17) it was photographed feeding on this plant.
They have venomous spines that can cause a painful sting and inflammation lasting for several days. In some cases, the sting may cause headache, nausea, and shock-like symptoms.
Habitat:
I found this caterpillar near the jungle of Atlantic Forest, in Parque São Vicente, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, about 840m above sea level.
Notes:
The town of the coordinates (lat: -22.537570, long: -43.228488) that I used for search, is not DUQUE DE CAXIAS, as reports the search map tool of this page, but PETRÓPOLIS, as shown here:<br>
https://www.google.com/maps/place/22%C2%B032'15.2%22S+43%C2%B013'42.6%2…
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