Most bee species are solitary, but bumble bees are social. The characteristics of social bees are that there are more than one generation in a hive, they care for their young collectively, and there is a division between bees that reproduce and those that care for the young. Scarab beetles were revered by the ancient Egyptians. Because their young burst forth from beneath the ground, they were seen as symbols of rebirth and renewal. The hairs or spines of this moth's caterpillar are poisonous.
Contact causes a burning sensation and an inflammation that can be as painful as a bee sting.
If you are stung by a poisonous caterpillar, you should immediately wash the area, remove any stingers in the skin, and use ice to reduce swelling. Cicada killer Sphecius speciosus Family Sphecidae Cicada killers are as good as their name. Adults paralyze cicadas with their sting and then carry them back to their nests as fresh food for their newly hatched larvae. This crane fly is one of 150 species of crane flies known to occur in Philadelphia. Not only are they beautifully colored, they are also voracious predators and move very, very fast.