If you've been to a forest in the United States, you may have thought you saw a kind of toupee in motion. It is a cat caterpillar ( Megalopyge opercularis ), which eventually transforms into an equally hairy moth.
Underneath that abundant fur is an arsenal of poisonous spines, hence it is known as the most dangerous caterpillar in America.
These dangerous walking toupees appear to be invading the forests of Virginia and experts are considering the possibility of an outbreak .
About 2-3 centimeters long , this nature toupee comes in all varieties, some with straight hair, others have waves, and can be brown, gray and white in color. Its appearance changes with its life cycle, its "mane" being more voluminous in the early larval stage and descending in the middle stage of the change.
Don't ever touch them, as the "fur" of these insects is full of poisonous spines that trigger painful reactions when they come into contact with human skin. Symptoms of contact with a cat caterpillar can range from mild to severe, with common complaints including bloating, vomiting, and fever. In extreme conditions, a large dose of the poison can be lethal if left untreated.
