Stinging Slug Caterpillar from South Africa

South African stinging caterpillar
Hi,
I’m curious if anyone can identify this South African caterpillar. Found dozens of them happily munching Ligustrum ovalifolium – they’re a very good match to the golden-green leaves. They deliver a really painful sting. About an inch long, some a bit larger.
Adrian

Hi Adrian,
While we have not identified the exact species, we can tell you that this is a Slug Caterpillar in the family Limacodidae.

7 thoughts on “Stinging Slug Caterpillar from South Africa”

  1. For about 2 weeks everybody that passes my Rose bush thought that they where stung by bees or something ! It burn very bad for more than a day ,then i discovered the whole bush was covered with this green cattepillars looking like green small mulberries i took one of and my fingers start burning very bad never seen this in johannesburg area

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  2. Hi
    I found a few while tying my climbing rose and got stung never seen them before here in jhb east are they a pest and from what region in south africa do they originate

    Reply
  3. Hi
    I found a few while tying my climbing rose and got stung never seen them before here in jhb east are they a pest and from what region in south africa do they originate

    Reply
  4. Found one today, tried to pick it up, also stung me. Any idea of what they become? I took a really good photo, where do I upload it?

    Reply

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