What's this caterpillar? Found in my garden in Scotland
Posted by Current_Thing2244@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 75 comments
Posted by Current_Thing2244@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 75 comments
LengthinessAgitated9@reddit
Well it’s a hairy hoobit obviously
Ok_Try_877@reddit
Lesser spotted haggis ranger
Nuthetes@reddit
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.
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.
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
B4DM4N12Z@reddit
Invasive from where?
Matchaparrot@reddit
Southern Europe
B4DM4N12Z@reddit
Oh Ok
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.
Matchaparrot@reddit
Do you eat caterpillars? I would never think to eat a caterpillar...
LibraryOfFoxes@reddit
Certainly not a hairy one...
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.
Matchaparrot@reddit
That's awesome ♥️ my father saw one in the garden once and sent me a photo, it was so beautiful
daddy-dj@reddit
Ah, cool. As I said, I'm not a caterpillar expert so I steer clear of 'em all to be safe 🙂
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 😅
Current_Thing2244@reddit (OP)
I'm glad I picked it up with a bit of wood now thanks! 😳
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.
Maximum_Lemon_5247@reddit
its mainly just the haired that poke you and cause irritation
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!
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.
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.
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 😊
maclean123@reddit
Standard scottish hairy granny
Unusual_Breath_2397@reddit
A big one
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit
How no one posted this I'll never understand haha
Little guy you found is cute tho OP
Worried-Geologist650@reddit
Awesome, I’ve not seen one of those for about 20 years.
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.
Born2Rune@reddit
Have a doot, that made me giggle.
ozzieowl@reddit
I wondered for a while where the hell that was going to
maccon25@reddit
no that’s a porcupine
Electronblue69@reddit
He's great
xhaggishunter@reddit
A caterpillar
itsaaronnotaaron@reddit
You found my mustache!
Jacobite_Express@reddit
A wee baggy beastie
tktoaster@reddit
Golden tiger moth caterpillar
eatingmaggotsmichael@reddit
We call them Granny grey beards round my way
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
bazzaric@reddit
Ooft, that’s a baby haggis
Economind@reddit
Or a lost trainee sporran
RadaghasztII@reddit
That's a hairy boi
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 😊
LoccyDaBorg@reddit
That's George. He's a good lad.
not4OUR04OURfound@reddit
He was a rascal when he was on the brown water
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
TotallyUniqueMoniker@reddit
Yeah that’s our George for sure, great laugh on the beer
Dutch_Slim@reddit
I heard he’s been banned from the slug pub.
Snaggl3t00t4@reddit
Latin name: timorous weebeastie
Imaginary_Moose_2384@reddit
From the comments looks like attempts to pick them up gang aft agley...
Kaylee__Frye@reddit
That's a wee guy.
lamploveI89@reddit
Hairy Molly 😅
mikepea31@reddit
Not seen one before, is it a vegetable ?
Temporary_Ad_4668@reddit
Hairy Oobit
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.
PrettyWetObsession@reddit
looks like a woolly bear caterpillar
Lady_of_Lomond@reddit
It's a hairy woobit.
Jasp1971@reddit
Hairy mary.
Full-Substance-3472@reddit
We call it Kambli hula in bamgalore, india.
fords42@reddit
We used to call those hairy rubies (East Lothian).
AdWerd1981@reddit
That's Billy Connolly's Moustache! He's looking for it.
Spireites1866-CFC@reddit
Possibly a Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar 🐛
Current_Thing2244@reddit (OP)
Ooh I just looked that up and it seems to be spot on, thank you!
Maximum_Lemon_5247@reddit
It's called a woolly boy :D
Maximum_Lemon_5247@reddit
Its a woolly boy they turn into a tiger moth
ScumBucket33@reddit
Tiger moth I’m sure. I previously looked it up when I spotted one in my garden out of my window.
ThatNiceDrShipman@reddit
We used to get them in London back in the 80s but I haven't seen one in decades. Cute little guys.
lemonsqueezy55@reddit
That is a hairy brottag! (In Caithness dialect)
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
No-Tone-6853@reddit
Feel like this meets the definition of a wee beastie.
GreatExchange6766@reddit
That’s the Fluffy Non Venomous Touch Me Please caterpillar 🐛🫶🏻 please pet it a bit, they love it and you will love it 🥹
TheLibrarian75@reddit
A wee hairy beastie
mothsandsuch@reddit
Also referred to as Wooly Bear caterpillars 🥹
AngusDwight@reddit
We used to call them Hairy Grannies.
McLeod3577@reddit
Greater Irn Bru Moth Caterpillar
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
OP marked this as the best answer, given by /u/Spireites1866-CFC.
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