CLOSED: Mystery Caterpillar (chunky white w red quills)

I have a mystery caterpillar that I photographed last year in the Yucatan…I cannot find any information regarding this type of insect anywhere on the web. Can you help identify?



I would say it was about 4” long by ˝” wide – seemed to have a dark body with a chunky white covering; some of the hairs were nearly 3” long and red with what appeared to be clear liquid on the ends of the shorter ones. I assumed it was poisonous! I couldn’t make out one end from the other so I never got a photo of its face. See attached photos, let me know what you think.

Thumbnail by Cms1980 Thumbnail by Cms1980 Thumbnail by Cms1980
Minot, ND

This appears to be Megalopyge lanata; reported to be very painful to encounter - http://bigpicture.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Megalopyge-lanata-4.jpg

I would have to agree...it looks like they can come in a few colors! The locals saw me taking photos o the beast and would wave their finger at me and make a painful face as if to say don't get too close and don't touch or you will be sorry! I kept my distance lol

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