Photo: Say Hallo to my little friend

The Stinging Rose Caterpillar Moth

I found this little guy while visiting my parents house in rural Indiana. I proceeded to get it to sit on that leaf and for the next 30 minutes I walked around with it taking pictures in different locations. I recently found out what it was from a bug identifying website and it turns out that it apparently stings you. So I'm pretty thrilled I (a. didn't try to make it a pet) and (b. didn't touch it.)

Heres a description of the little guy.

The black-tipped spines on the body wall have poison glands at their bases. Venom enters the skin of humans or animals when the caterpillars are touched and the tips of the spines break off. The caterpillars are said to be capable of producing skin irritation similar to that produced by saddleback caterpillar, which is considered among the most severe urticating caterpillars in North America. Specialized irritating spines, called caltrop spines, are present on the lateral horns of several segments.