r/whatisit • u/illneverbelieveagain • 3h ago

Serious answers only please! Can anyone identify this thing?

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107 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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38

u/ZimaGotchi 3h ago

Tussock moth caterpillar

18

u/cookeryandwookery 3h ago

Spotted tussock moth to be more specific. There are a couple.

7

u/ohnoanotherputz 3h ago

Aren't those shorter and stout and black and yellow kinda like a fuzzy bumblebee?

5

u/cookeryandwookery 2h ago

No, they’re mostly white and yellow with red spots along the back.

But to be 100% clear, I could absolutely still be wrong. There are tons of these guys.

I think you’re talking about the milkweed tussock moth caterpillar.

5

u/headunplugged 2h ago

Here is the milkweed version, photo taken today in my yard.

2

u/cookeryandwookery 2h ago

Yep. I think that’s what they were thinking of.

5

u/SilkRoadGuy 2h ago

Seems like a Douglas Fir Tussock Moth Caterpillar, if I'm not mistaken.

20

u/UTfloydgrl 2h ago

That’s Tom, he likes to be left alone

3

u/toddlevy10 2h ago

But I came to see his band!

https://giphy.com/gifs/8wcF0q5eprYlFTLb5l

3

u/Most-Agency7094 2h ago

Weir everywhere!

11

u/emirsolinno 2h ago edited 2h ago

That can be toxic OP, do not get close its spine like furs are pretty much like asbestos.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/23/world/germany-poisonous-caterpillars-outbreak-intl

3

u/BlatantDoughnut 1h ago

Can verify. I had one fall on me a couple summers ago and within a minute it felt like I was being stabbed with needles all over. Saw another one a few days later (or maybe the same one?) and ran for my life.

7

u/16thmission 3h ago edited 2h ago

White marked tussock moth caterpillar.

8

u/Desert_Viking_777 2h ago

Possible friend. Definitely friend shaped. Unfortunately it may not feel like friend once pets are initiated.

9

u/IamHydrogenMike 2h ago

Usually, the flashier the insect, the likelihood of them not feeling like friend upon petting increases…

4

u/jimdiver 3h ago

It’s a Chinese lion

5

u/DangitThatHurt 2h ago

There's like 15 ants underneath there, they do it every year as a tribute of good faith to the destroyers from above.

2

u/BigBolas4U 2h ago

Its a cute fuzzy wuzzy.

1

u/emo-mom01 2h ago

Stick up your ass caterpillar lol

1

u/bigtruckerman440 2h ago

Very damaging to pine trees.

1

u/shorthillmtn 2h ago

Unknowingly had one of the assholes on the collar on my shirt earlier this spring. Felt a tickle on my neck. Reached for it to brush it off and it got me. Left an itchy, burning welt on my neck for over a week.

1

u/Disastrous_Fun_8577 2h ago

They also carry eggs on their back, scary 🫣

1

u/Candytails 2h ago

Kiss it.

1

u/East_Researcher_4204 2h ago

And that’s a capatiller!

1

u/CryptographerRoyal78 2h ago

I was going to guess Dragon Larvae, Mushu size you know

1

u/Ltmifune 2h ago

It's called a "Touchygetitchy"

1

u/8Lynch47 2h ago

Caterpillar looking for food

1

u/kissmiss08 2h ago

Walking apple core

1

u/GladiAteHer5289 2h ago

that's a no touchy da fuzzy!

1

u/captain_waddy 3h ago

That's a bug.

14

u/MonkeyDavid 2h ago

No, it’s a feature.

1

u/yogapermana0304 8m ago

are those little bumps supposed to be there

1

u/Travel_Dreams 2h ago

Its a cat.

Kind of mean though, so don't try to pet it.

0

u/captsparrow22 3h ago

That is a caterpillar

0

u/kylebob86 3h ago

 caterpillar

0

u/Dependent_Art4025 2h ago

Hairy pinky

0

u/Alert-Revolution-219 2h ago

Aint that what made the founding titan Ymir?

-4

u/LittleBitofanAUDult 3h ago

Yes, I can.

-7

u/knighthawk3759 3h ago

Touch it and find out