It's a fat, furry caterpillar that is popping up in trees across Florida, and it's known as the "puss caterpillar," or Megalopyge opercularis.

But whatever you do, do not touch this bug. Stay away from it, scientists say.

Its fur is actually covered in venom. Doctors from the University of Florida say the second you touch this caterpillar you feel instant, intense pain.

The pain is worse than a bee, jellyfish, or scorpion, and it can also cause vomiting and convulsions.

Doctors say be aware of them while working outdoors because they are known to fall out of trees.

http://www.myfoxla.com/story/2...

I don't know whether we get these caterpillars here in NE Mississippi. I don't ever remember seeing one but I will sure be on the lookout now that I see a picture of what they look like. Thanks, Melissa.

The moth is pretty, fuzzy and fuzzy-legged, light browns and whites. I'm guessing about an inch long. If you google images, "puss caterpillar," or Megalopyge opercularis.

Thanks Melissa; the word is spreading around here.

The word is spreading. Our local paper had an article about it last week.

They feed on a variety of landscape plants, but seem to prefer Oaks and Citrus.

Here's a site with a map showing the range of these critters.
http://mothphotographersgroup....

Looks like you do have them in Mississippi, Ken. Texas also, and up the East Coast as far as the Chesapeake at least! Ick! As if we needed another stinging insect around here! I'm getting out my Bt sprayer right away!

Oh, and here's a good site for first aid treatment if you do get stung. http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a...

We've had those in Texas for at least 45 years! We call them Asps. They do pack a powerful sting if you brush up against them. In San Antonio, I had my first and only encounter with one on an Ash tree. I never wanted to feel that pain again! I have only seen one in Austin and it was on the side of our house, blending in with the limestone rock. I sent him to moth heaven.

OK, now I KNOW I will keep an eye out for them. Thanks.

How does an encounter with this guy compare to a saddleback caterpillar?

The sting of the Saddleback caterpillar is bad, but it is said that the Puss Caterpillar sting severity is the most intense.

TYVM. I hope I don't have any accidental encounters with either. Oak trees are definitely ubiquitous in this area.

"Larvae of the southern flannel moth are polyphagous (Heppner 1997) and are recorded from plant species belonging to 41 genera (Heppner 2003). Some host records may be erroneous. Like many other Lepidoptera larvae, mature puss caterpillars sometimes wander from the host plant and onto other nearby plants prior to spinning their cocoons. Cocoons may even be found on buildings.

In north central Florida, puss caterpillars are most common on various species of oaks but are also common on elms - including both native species and the exotic Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia Jacquin. Young larvae feed by skeletonizing leaves (Figure 9) and later eat small holes in the leaves. Late instars are leaf-edge feeders and curl the front of the thorax over the leaves as they feed (Figures 12 and 13). Khalaf (1974) reared larvae on a wheat germ artificial diet and reported ranges of times required for development of two different sets of first generation larvae of 63 to 97 and 53 to 87 days."
- http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Crea...

Wow, 41 genera of potential host plants, really makes them hard to avoid that way.

Yes, makes them very hard to avoid. That's why it's so important to keep your wits about you when interacting with nature. Especially watching where you step, and where you put your hands. Ah, mother nature! Always keeping us on our toes!