Posted by Connie St. Clair on September 6, 2006

Q: When I was about 14 in San Antonio TX I felt a very sharp pain in my arm. I looked down to see a jet black woolly bear caterpillar. I then ofcourse, by human instinct, knocked it off my arm. The pain increased from the end of my arm up to my armpit. I told my mother that it was quite a terrible pain I was feeling. She didn't believe me until a few minutes later she too was bitten or whatever. Which leads me into my questions. Do any Woolly Bear Caterpillars bite or are their tufts of hair pain causing? It has been almost 20 yrs. since this happened and I have yet to find an answer. I thank you in advance for your time and so does my mother.

State: Texas

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: Oh my, 20 years ago - I think I have your answer!

You were NOT imagining things when you noted pain on your arm around the Woolly Bear. Woolly Bear Caterpillars have lots of sharp hairs on their bodies that protect them from predators. If a predator gets a Woolly Bear in its mouth, the hairs detach and stick in the mouth lining causing intense discomfort. You must have brushed the caterpillar with your arm and got some of its hairs in your skin. You're probably more sensitive to those hairs than many people and so you reacted to this "invasion" more than someone else might. I know I've handled Woolly Bears and never had any problems but I've also not rubbed them against the tender skin on the lower part of my forearm either. Hope I've cleaerd up your "mystery". Thanks for sharing.

John Wiessinger ( September 7, 2006)