Awesome Animal Fact - Presidential Caterpillar

Did you know the caterpillar of the southern flannel moth has been widely dubbed as the Trumpapillar? Why, you ask? Well, many individuals of this caterpillar have a rather uncanny resemblance to a certain former president's hair.

Yes, the photo below really is a caterpillar. Of course, Trumpapillar is not the official name of this insect, but the name has caught on as a result of numerous viral photos circulating since 2016. Seriously... Google it. You'll be surprised how many examples there are, with various colors and "styles."

Setting all the whimsy aside, the flannel moth caterpillar is a fascinating creature. It has an effective defense. Those fine hairs you see? They hide venomous spines. And not just a little bit venomous. David Eagleman states, in the Journal Clinical Toxicology, that “Intense, throbbing pain develops immediately or within five minutes of contact with the caterpillar."

Photo Credits:
- Flannel moth caterpillar - Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons