It looked like a harmless, fuzzy little creature — soft, yellowish, with tufts of hair that made it seem almost friendly.

But what 15-year-old Logan Pergola brushed against while gathering tree branches one summer day turned out to be far from innocent.

Moments after feeling a sharp, stinging sensation, a grid-like red rash began to spread across his skin — raised, burning, and spreading fast.

His mother, Andrea Pergola, snapped a photo and posted it online in a panic.

“If your child touches a tree branch and gets this rash — go to the ER.”

Her warning went viral — and for good reason.

The culprit?
The saddleback caterpillar — one of North America’s most painful stinging caterpillars — often mistaken for a cute, fuzzy bug.

Let’s explore what this insect is, why it’s dangerous, and how to protect your family — especially children and pets.