Pale Tussock

Calliteara pudibunda

The caterpillar of the Pale Tussock Moth is easily recognisable. It is covered in long, dense hairs that range from white to lime green and has a notable pinkish-red tuft at its rear. These tufts of hair, known as setae, serve as a mechanical means of defence. Although they can cause skin irritation, these caterpillars do not have venomous stings or bites. The image appears to depict a caterpillar either spinning or resting inside its silken pupation cocoon on a sweet chestnut leaf. In the past, crop pickers commonly referred to these caterpillars as "hop dogs" because they were frequently found munching on hop leaves.