Fluffy Caterpillar: 5 Black Hairy Insects

What does a kaya bear caterpillar look like?

Larvae kaya bear butterflies quite large. The body length of the caterpillar can be 5-6 cm. The main color of the insect is black. The entire surface of the body is densely covered with hairs.

The color of the hairs is dark, with a white tip. The villi in young larvae may have a lighter shade than in mature individuals. On the back of the insect, you can also notice stripes of a yellowish tint. Caterpillar hairs can cause conjunctivitis when in contact with the mucous membrane of the eye.

Caterpillars of the kaya bear are active from the end of summer to the end of spring. In this stage, the insect remains for the winter and wakes up after the onset of heat. The caterpillar pupates around the end of May.

You can follow the amazing process of turning a caterpillar into a butterfly in separate article.

What do caterpillars eat

The diet of this caterpillar includes a wide variety of plants. In the wild, they eat various herbs and leaves of shrubs. Appearing in a summer cottage or in a garden, these insects can harm crops such as:

insect habitat

This type of butterfly can be found in most of Europe and Asia, as well as in North America. An insect can live even at an altitude of up to 3000 m above sea level. On the territory of Russia, the Kaya bear is found in almost all regions, including Siberia and the Far East.

What types of caterpillars are similar to the kaya bear larvae

A similar black color can be found in other types of butterflies. The most famous among them are:

• butterfly Admiral. The body of the caterpillar is painted black, with yellow spots along the edges and covered with herringbone-shaped spikes;
• butterfly Hawthorn. The back of the caterpillar is painted black with small streaked brown spots. The belly of the insect is light blue. The body of the larva is densely covered with ash-colored hairs;
• butterfly Peacock eye. The caterpillar is painted black with many small white dots. The body of the insect is covered with hard, branched spines;
• Butterfly raspberry cocoon. The body of the larva is black, velvety, covered with many long hairs of the same color.

Conclusion

Despite its intimidating appearance, the kaya bear caterpillar is not as dangerous as many other species. But, this does not mean that it is worth touching or taking it in hand. Contact with insects can lead to skin irritation and inflammation of the mucous membranes. Caterpillar hairs can very easily cause conjunctivitis.