Subject: strange insect found
Location: Essex Jct, Vermont
September 3, 2012 12:54 pm
My son spotted a very odd looking insect crawling up a tree at our home in Vermont. It was orange in color and looked like the inside of a crab shell on the back but moved very much like a snail. It had a wormlike head and measured approximately one inch long and was soft and had no shell. What is this thing?
Signature: Steven and Connor
Hi Steven and Conner,
This creature, which is commonly called a Monkey Slug, is the caterpillar of the Hag Moth. Handle with caution as they are capable of stinging.