Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar
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Tussock moths generally get their name based on the extended tufts of hair on the caterpillars, which makes it at least fairly easy to ID most specimens to at last a genera level.
The Spotted Tussock Moth caterpillar (Lophocampa maculata) in the picture resembles a woolly bear caterpillar with extended hairs. In fact, both belong to the tiger moth family Erebidae, which contains tiger moths, tussock moths and others.
They are mostly a Western species and feed on the leaves of a variety of native trees.
© 2010 Patricia A. Michaels.