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Lagarta-de-fogo (Fire Caterpillar)

Family Megalopygidae, Genus Megalopyge

Published on Project Noah
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-25.4284, -49.2733

Field Notes

Description:

Orange, around 6 or 7 cm, body completely covered with orange hair, with a few white hairs at one end.

Notes:

This strange caterpillar was firmly secured on a fern branch.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)
Sergio Monteiro
I found out that this is one of the most dangerous caterpillars in Brazil, because to touch it's hair can cause an excrutiating pain, that lasts for several hours. The picture seems to be of an early instar, still with short hair.

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Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Photographed
PublishedDecember 27, 2011

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