Are Woolly Worms (Woolly Bear Caterpillars) Poisonous?

woolly bear caterpillar
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One of our  readers asked us if we knew if woolly worms were poisonous. Woolly worms are also known as woolly bear caterpillars. They are very fuzzy creatures and have what look to be very prickly hairs all over their bodies. Many people have asked is they are safe to pick up and if they are dangerous to humans. All of the research that has been done states that these caterpillars are not poisonous to humans.

woolly bear caterpillar

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Woolly bear caterpillars are the larvae of tiger moths. These caterpillars range in many colors from bright orange, brown to black. Their bodies are covered with tiny, prickly hairs. They look quite scary, but this is part of their defense mechanism to keep predators at bay.

These caterpillars do not bite and most scientists have said that they are safe to touch. They do not recommend holding them for long amounts of time since they do have prickly hairs. These hairs could get into our reader’s skin and cause an infection or irritation.

All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported, we don't subject you to ads or annoying video pop-ups. But it does cost us money out of our pocket to keep the site going (nearly 20 years so far!) So your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP Publishing.

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Are Woolly Worms (Woolly Bear Caterpillars) Poisonous?
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Are Woolly Worms (Woolly Bear Caterpillars) Poisonous?
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One of our readers asked us if we knew if woolly worms were poisonous.
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9 thoughts on “Are Woolly Worms (Woolly Bear Caterpillars) Poisonous?

  1. i have found a Caterpillar in my back yard i think it is cute. i want to keep it …but is it poisons?

  2. that “rice” was likely a bee or wasp egg left on it’s back. The larvae of that that wasp burrows inside the caterpillar eating it’s soft innards from the inside out, then busts out of the caterpillar’s back and flies away to lay eggs on another caterpillar.

  3. i unknowingly seat on a wooly worm in the garden the & it was pretty big of approx 15cm may be less .

    then i threw it away, the hairs was stuck on my fingers & on my butt i took out all the hairs of wooly worm from my fingers but some of the hairs on butt were not removed & i think it went inside my body.

    it was very itchy that time but now it is the 5th day and i have very awful pain in my thigh , which i think is because of the hairs of wooly worm left inside.

    would i get any help asap please

  4. I have stung by a wholly bear catapult . Or it’s wiscars. It was on my shirt collar unknown to me. I brishrf it off feeling it touch my neck. I immediately broke out in hives. Took benadryl. Hives subsided. But following morning I’m all broke out again. While I’m writing this now.
    Hives are moving towards the front of my neck.

  5. We found a wooly bear with white hairs on the end,
    while on a field trip, Willamette Valley foothills of the Coast Range.
    I was taught to be wary of caterpillars with white hair, there were no injuries when handled. Were we lucky?

  6. Found a very small woolly worm today and it had white things growing on its hair. It looked like grains of white rice??? I’m from the south and have seen and played with them all my life but in 48 years have never seen one with “rice” on it. Can you tell me what it is?

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