Except that that would be a big mistake. We’ve got a great many dagger moth caterpillars nibbling on some of our trees.
Mary brought in a branch with several of these things to show me. I had to recoil and tell her to get them out of the house.
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
I prefer the wooly bears, which are equally furry looking but do not have stinging hairs.
What are these things? I’ve never seen one. We have plenty of wooly bears.
What was she thinking? “Slight burning sensation” my ass. I got stung by a saddleback caterpillar–the burning, stinging sensation doesn’t kick in right away, which is how I managed to get stung multiple times–the damn thing was on the underside of a rosebush leaf–but when it kicks in, it kicks in with a vengeance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleback_caterpillar
FYI, vinegar neutralizes the stings. The bad news is that the burning sensation is amplified, like pouring iodine into an open wound. The good news is that right after, the burning is completely gone & it also gets rid of the raised welts and prevents hives & later itching. Just grit your teeth for the initial burn from the vinegar. Rubbing alcohol will also do the trick but somewhat less effectively.
Aposematic coloration doesn’t mean jack when the damn things hide out on the underside of leaved where you can’t see them.
It looks like this beasty would be hard for a spider to take on and eat.