After metamorphosis, the insect does not pose any threat.
It closely resembles a wig or toupee.
It is widely regarded as one of the most poisonous of its kind in the USA.
The bristly hair that coats it, hides small and toxic spines that can get lodged in a person’s skin and cause immediate and intensely burning pain.
The caterpillars, which subsist solely on oak and elm leaves, are commonly found in parks and near structures in southern states like Texas and Missouri.
