White Puss Caterpillar: Beautiful but Venomous—Do Not Touch

That Fluffy White Caterpillar Is a Stinging Hazard

If you've found a caterpillar that looks like a tiny angora kitten—white, furry, and irresistibly touchable—do not touch it. It's the puss moth caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis), and beneath that soft "fur" are hollow spines connected to venom glands. The sting is intensely painful, often radiating, and can cause systemic symptoms.

Identification

• Color varies: white, gray, brown, or chocolate
• Teardrop shape, 1–1.5 inches long
• Dense, hair-like setae covering the body
• Often found on oaks, elms, roses, and garden plants in late summer/fall

If You're Stung

1. Remove spines with tape (press and peel).
2. Wash with soap and water.
3. Apply ice pack and baking soda paste.
4. Seek medical attention if pain is severe, swelling spreads, or you have allergic reactions.

Safe Removal

Use a stick, gloves, or an old cloth to pick it up and relocate it to a wooded area—or drop it in soapy water. They're native and part of the ecosystem, just not welcome on high-traffic plants.