Nature
PUBLISHED
It’s all getting very serious in the US presidential elections. It feels like it's been going on for years, and there are still a fair few weeks to go.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.So if it’s all getting a little bit too heavy for you, take a moment to remember the flannel moth caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) – better known as the caterpillar that looks like Donald Trump’s hair/wig.
The so-called “Trumpapillar” is a keen patron of diversity, known to occur in many colors, from red to pink to white to yellow. They can be found in the south-east of the US, South America, and – ironically – Mexico.
This one was snapped by wildlife photographer Jeff Cremer in the Peruvian Amazon. Jeff also pulled out his 5x Macro lens on the specimen to examine it up close.
To the casual observer, it might look appealing. But on deeper inspection, it turns out to be rather venomous and capable of causing a fair amount of irritation. As you can see in the video below, that silky hair is actually covered in microscopic barbs. Those velcro-like barbs are connected to cells, which produce irritating chemicals. So, although its venom won't kill you, it's best to stay away from this guy.
