There will also be some black spots on their body as well as long white lashes, which can cause irritation and allergic reactions. This caterpillar is multicolored, with black on the ends and a yellow or orange center section. It lives on a wide range of host plants, including birches, maples, oaks, poplars, and willows. The yellow-spotted tussock moth larva is a hairy caterpillar found in North America. Yellow Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar Yellow spotted tussock moth caterpillar | image by Jerry Kirkhart via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 They mature into monarch butterflies with a striking appearance. This brightly colored larva can be found all over North America. The caterpillar is 2 to 4 cm long and has yellow, black, and white stripes on its body. They eat the white sap of these plants, which makes them poisonous and unpleasant to their predators. It prefers milkweed plants as a host, and it feeds on the leaves of those plants. The monarch caterpillar is a species that inhabits forests, fields, and gardens. Monarch Caterpillar Monarch caterpillar | Image by Wayne from Pixabay They also eat a variety of pea family plants, including wisteria, black locust, and false indigo. These caterpillars have been observed silking leaves together to form a leaf shelter, where they live and only come out to eat. They’re mostly found in meadows and swamps, where they use the plant’s leaves to hide from predators. Its head is black or reddish-brown in color, and its legs are orange. It’s distinguished by its bright yellow coloring and black stripes. You can find the silver-spotted skipper caterpillar in the United States and Canada. Silver-spotted Skipper Caterpillar Silver-spotted Skipper Caterpillar | image by Judy Gallagher via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 You can find yellow-necked caterpillars from Canada to the Rocky Mountains and California. They can also reach a length of 1.9 inches. This color is visible on mature larvae, whereas young larvae are reddish-brown with white stripes. They’re identified by their black color with yellow stripes down their backs, which is how they got their name. This group of yellow-necked larvae will consume the leaves, leaving only the vein. The yellow-necked larva is a caterpillar species that feeds on oak, walnut, and birch trees. Yellow-necked Caterpillar Group of yellow-necked caterpillar | image by Judy Gallagher via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 The larvae can be found on a variety of trees, including oak, birch, alder, ash, elm, maple, oak, willow, and other trees in yards, forests, and gardens. If you come across one of these species, it’s best to leave it alone. These bristles can break off and embed in the skin, releasing toxins that can cause stinging sensations when touched. It’s a fuzzy caterpillar covered in yellow setae with four long black bristles on its body. The American dagger caterpillar is a moth larva found in North America. American Dagger Caterpillar American Dagger Caterpillar | image by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Here’s a list of 14 North American yellow caterpillars, along with some information about each one. While some types of yellow caterpillars are toxic, other species are not. These insects are often brightly colored to warn predators that they are dangerous and unsafe. Given their unusual color, you might also wonder if these yellow insects are safe to touch.

You’ve most likely encountered a yellow caterpillar while walking through the woods or in your garden.

Yellow striped cat