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Hemileuca sp
I think this is the coolest looking caterpillar I have ever seen. It is black with tiny yellow spots on the body. Along the back are orange puffs of hair-like things with longer black hair like things extending from those orange puffs.
Found on a leaf on the ground in a swampy area.
Thanks Rieko! And thanks for yet another ID, Keith :) And since I don't know how to ID caterpillars or know anything about them, that's why I don't touch them :)
H. groteii and H. maia are both good candidates. Caterpillars of this genus are capable of inflicting painful stings.