Picking Up Little Caterpillars

[Mona Miller]

I'm setting up a couple of cages for the headstart kids to watch. I really got angry with a little boy yesterday. After telling them not to pick them up with his two fingers, he did it anyway. Some times they just don't listen. I told him in nature you should never pick them up with two fingers (of course I do, but I know how to do it without hurting them--but, not the tiny ones, I always use a water color brush or leaf). I also told him to use a leaf or a stick for them to crawl on to. I told him that moth caterpillars can sting and you never know whether it will sting or not. But, you can learn to identify the ones that sting. I was out in a Pawpaw field yesterday and saw saddle back caterpillars, they sting and it really hurts.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/507
Saddleback Caterpillar

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins ... pillar.htm
Stinging Caterpillars A Guide to Recognition of Species Found on Alabama Trees