The wormlike larval stage of a butterfly or a moth. [M.E. catirpeller, fr. O.Fr. cate, cat, + pelose, hairy]
- dermatitis-causing c.. one of several species whose hairs can cause an allergic dermatitis; the saddleback c. (Sabine stimulea) and the brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) are common examples.
- saddleback c. Sabine stimulea, a cause of c. dermatitis.
- stinging c. c. with urticarious hairs or spines that cause allergic dermatitis, e.g., the Io moth and the puss c..
* * *
cat·er·pil·lar (katґər-pil″ər) the larva of an insect of the order Lepidoptera. Certain species have hairs that cause insect dermatitis.Medical dictionary. 2011.