Yellow fuzzy caterpillar

BugGuide to the rescue once again!

This is a Spotted Apatelodes moth caterpillar (Apatelodes torrefacta).

I had to look through 39 pages of moth caterpillars to find it, but BugGuide.Net came through again in the end. Apparently these moths are normally white instead of yellow.

Here's what he'll look like once he's a moth.

I can't decide whether he reminds me more of Cousin Itt or a Tribble.

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I should point out that the adult moth link above deserves plenty of your time if you have an interest in moths. The site, Moths in a Connecticut Yard, is full of helpful information about attracting moths.

The sugar, beer, and blacklight bait combination would probably work on some people too, but it might not be the type you'd want milling around in your back yard.

The web site author wrote a book about moths that might interest you as well.

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See this previous post about fuzzy white caterpillars. Since I wrote that, I've read that many fuzzy caterpillars, if not stinging, can be irritating to the skin.

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Edited to add:
If you're interested in bugs or other critters without vertebrae, you'll want to check in over at Circus of the Spineless. Submit some entries yourself if you're so inclined! Deadline for the first edition is Sept 28.