Four tufts of hair (which may be white, gray, or yellowish) on the back help identify many types of the tussock caterpillar. They may also have a bright red head, a broad black stripe along the back, yellow stripes on each side, and two red glands near the hairs on the back.

This is a very common caterpillar and can be found in the eastern United States and southern Canada.

The hair on these caterpillars is known to cause allergic reactions.