Touch Me Not!

This peculiar looking object is a White Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar, which has curled itself into a protective ball after Mr. W moved it from our white painted porch door to a more colourful and more photogenic background.  These little guys pack a rather nasty punch, as they have venomous, spiny hairs to deter any hungry visitors.  They are quite beautiful, though.  As you may have surmised, we are back in the country for a couple of days.