Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2025 — These little caterpillars are apparently very irritating to some folk’s skin…not venomous, and certainly not toxic, but irritating. They are numerous here in Southern Maine as fall comes on. I was taking a photo of a mushroom at the base of a tree when two of them fell onto my hat and landed in the grass. I think they are kind of attractive in an understated kind of way…but not attractive enough to risk picking one up. 🙂 Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 131mm equivalent. Program mode with insect modifications. Processed in Photomator.