This pretty little insect larva is the Saturniid caterpillar, one of Panama's several varieties of "electric caterpillars." They really aren't electric --- their hairs are spine that inject venom that will burn and blister human skin, and give you a very painful sting that will last for at least a couple of hours. Some species of electric caterpillars will colonize a shrub en masse, and if a child runs or falls into such a bush, it can become a serious medical emergency. Photo by US Army South

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