What's this caterpillar? Found in my garden in Scotland

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Not sure if it's an urban myth but the hairs on them are... not poisonous at such, but have some sort of irritant on them that causes a rash or itching. So, don't touch it... or tell any kids not to give it a stroke.

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daddy-dj@reddit

Not an urban myth. There are caterpillars that have what's called urticating hairs, meaning they react with skin kinda like how stinging nettles.

Where I live we get Processionary Caterpillars that have these bristles. The council puts up traps around the tree trunks to catch the little fuckers. The one in the picture looks similar to the ones we have, but I'm not an expert so can't say for sure if it is one of the Professional ones.

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Matchaparrot@reddit

It's not a processionary it's a garden Tiger moth which is harmless (and the adult is very beautiful)

Yes I've heard about the processionary - their hairs can even be taken on the wind and they're an invasive species. Apparently they give you an allergic reaction so processionary are dangerous

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B4DM4N12Z@reddit

Invasive from where?

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Matchaparrot@reddit

Southern Europe

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B4DM4N12Z@reddit

Oh Ok

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TrustYourFarts@reddit

It's not entirely harmless. It's toxic to eat. It's thought it might get the toxins from plants they consume. The hairs are an irritant, too.

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Matchaparrot@reddit

Do you eat caterpillars? I would never think to eat a caterpillar...

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LibraryOfFoxes@reddit

Certainly not a hairy one...

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RokosBallsack@reddit

One of my favourite childhood memories is a Tigermoth falling out of the sky and I caught it in my hands. Brought it in to show my Grandma. Think it must have been dead/dying.

They are so beautiful to look at.

I haven’t seen one in the UK since.

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Matchaparrot@reddit

That's awesome ♥️ my father saw one in the garden once and sent me a photo, it was so beautiful

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daddy-dj@reddit

Ah, cool. As I said, I'm not a caterpillar expert so I steer clear of 'em all to be safe 🙂

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TheTwert@reddit

Yeah! I remember finding one of these around 40 years ago. I insisted to my mum that I would carry it all the way home. Next day I was down the doctors with a swollen, blotchy itchy hand.

Would not recommend 😅

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Current_Thing2244@reddit (OP)

I'm glad I picked it up with a bit of wood now thanks! 😳

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PsychologicalSense53@reddit

These types of furry caterpillars are very common in Assam, India. When I'm outside in the summers, if I get itchy, I know there's one nearby. You can't see their fur blowing in the wind, but if you're allergic, you'll develop swollen itchy rashes within minutes.

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Maximum_Lemon_5247@reddit

its mainly just the haired that poke you and cause irritation

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edyth_@reddit

When I was little one of my cousins ended up in hospital after touching a fluffy caterpillar. I think for most people they're ok, some people will get a rash or mild reaction but he was super unlucky and he had a massive allergic reaction. After that we were told never to touch them!

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JackJarvisEsquire1@reddit

On YouTube, there’s a guy called Paul Rosolie who works in the Amazon. He said that an unidentified white, fluffy caterpillar fell on his finger. When he tried to inspect it, he said the pain was instantly much worse than a bullet ant, which has the most painful sting in the world.

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B4DM4N12Z@reddit

Well that's South America, what else do you expect, either everything is trying to hurt or kill you, same with Australia, and sometimes Africa.

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Ok_Delivery2116@reddit

I used to collect them and keep them under my dad's shed. I haven't seen one in decades. Thank you for putting a smile on an old woman's face 😊

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maclean123@reddit

Standard scottish hairy granny

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Unusual_Breath_2397@reddit

A big one

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SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit

How no one posted this I'll never understand haha

Little guy you found is cute tho OP

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Worried-Geologist650@reddit

Awesome, I’ve not seen one of those for about 20 years.

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GrimQuim@reddit

They're known as a "mairi's muff" it you give it a little waft and a sniff you'll find it's got the aroma of boiled tatties.

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Born2Rune@reddit

Have a doot, that made me giggle.

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ozzieowl@reddit

I wondered for a while where the hell that was going to

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maccon25@reddit

no that’s a porcupine

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Electronblue69@reddit

He's great

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xhaggishunter@reddit

A caterpillar

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itsaaronnotaaron@reddit

You found my mustache!

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Jacobite_Express@reddit

A wee baggy beastie

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tktoaster@reddit

Golden tiger moth caterpillar

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eatingmaggotsmichael@reddit

We call them Granny grey beards round my way

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originalsadyeet@reddit

I remember them lil guys, I haven’t seen them in ages. I remember picking one up in primary school, my hand got red and itchy and then someone in the class said I was going to die. Fun times

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bazzaric@reddit

Ooft, that’s a baby haggis

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Economind@reddit

Or a lost trainee sporran

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RadaghasztII@reddit

That's a hairy boi

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Ok_Delivery2116@reddit

I used to collect them and keep them under my dad's shed. I haven't seen one in decades. Thank you for putting a smile on an old woman's face 😊

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LoccyDaBorg@reddit

That's George. He's a good lad.

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not4OUR04OURfound@reddit

He was a rascal when he was on the brown water

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Current_Thing2244@reddit (OP)

That'll be his name from now on, he's currently relegated to the back corner of my garden because he kept running into where I'm landscaping it. He's not the brightest bulb tbh, seems to have a death wish

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TotallyUniqueMoniker@reddit

Yeah that’s our George for sure, great laugh on the beer

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Dutch_Slim@reddit

I heard he’s been banned from the slug pub.

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Snaggl3t00t4@reddit

Latin name: timorous weebeastie

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Imaginary_Moose_2384@reddit

From the comments looks like attempts to pick them up gang aft agley...

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Kaylee__Frye@reddit

That's a wee guy.

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lamploveI89@reddit

Hairy Molly 😅

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mikepea31@reddit

Not seen one before, is it a vegetable ?

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Temporary_Ad_4668@reddit

Hairy Oobit

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KuchikiKisses@reddit

That's not a caterpillar. It's Tom Selleck's mustache. Please, for the love of god, post it back to him asap! The poor man's upper lip is cold.

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PrettyWetObsession@reddit

looks like a woolly bear caterpillar

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Lady_of_Lomond@reddit

It's a hairy woobit.

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Jasp1971@reddit

Hairy mary.

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Full-Substance-3472@reddit

We call it Kambli hula in bamgalore, india.

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fords42@reddit

We used to call those hairy rubies (East Lothian).

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AdWerd1981@reddit

That's Billy Connolly's Moustache! He's looking for it.

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Spireites1866-CFC@reddit

Possibly a Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar 🐛

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Current_Thing2244@reddit (OP)

Ooh I just looked that up and it seems to be spot on, thank you!

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Maximum_Lemon_5247@reddit

It's called a woolly boy :D

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Maximum_Lemon_5247@reddit

Its a woolly boy they turn into a tiger moth

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ScumBucket33@reddit

Tiger moth I’m sure. I previously looked it up when I spotted one in my garden out of my window.

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ThatNiceDrShipman@reddit

We used to get them in London back in the 80s but I haven't seen one in decades. Cute little guys.

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lemonsqueezy55@reddit

That is a hairy brottag! (In Caithness dialect)

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Matchaparrot@reddit

Garden Tiger moth caterpillar (Arcta caja). Feel free to pick up, this one isn't harmful. There's only a few species of caterpillar in the UK who have hairs that irritate - the brown tail moth caterpillar and yellow tail moth caterpillar and the pale tussock

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Possibly a Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar 🐛

^(What is this?)

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