1.1K views · 24 reactions | Dr. Adam Dale with UF Entomology & Nematology Department says only a few Florida caterpillars sting. | University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences | Facebook

The need for sting! The buck moth caterpillar (Hemileuca maia) is among one of the more painfully stinging insects in the US. Equipped with rows upon rows of venom injecting spines, these caterpillars are not something to play with! In the warmer months, caterpillars hatch and start feeding on oak leaves. As they molt larger and larger their spines get bigger and bigger, making these insects quite an intimidating sight! Once they pupate, they lose all their venomous spines and turn to focus enti