Tent caterpillars are moderately sized species in the genus Malacosoma and in the moth family Lasiocampidae. See Wikipedia. The picture above was taken far out in the desert on the Colorado Plateau. When I was young, I was fascinated by the web tents in trees and bushes. Tent caterpillars were just uncommon enough to evoke a little bit of uncertainty. I wasn't quite sure if they were dangerous or not. One of the rumors that circulated among children at the time was that certain caterpillars were poisonous, especially their spines. The braver of the boys (and some girls) would pick them up and let them walk up their arms or sleeves. The more timid would run away if the braver children tried to put a caterpillar on their arm or hand.
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