Orgyia Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Orgyia Ochsenheimer, 1810, of the Lymantriidae family, commonly referred to as Tussock Moths. The Tussock Moths are so-named because the caterpillars have four long dense dorsal tufts of hair, many hair pencils, and also two colored dorsal glands on abdominal segments six and seven. These glands appear to exude a liquid which deters ants from attacking the larvae.