Known as the saddleback caterpillar (thanks to that saddle-shaped dot on the centre of its back), this moth-in-the-making also brandishes a pair of fleshy 'horns' covered (like the rest of its body) with venom-secreting hairs that can cause stinging, swelling and a nasty rash when touched. 

Image credit: Gary Garcia, Flickr

This strange-looking caterpillar will eventually transform into North America's largest native moth, the cecropia moth. Despite that spiky armour, the caterpillars are actually very vulnerable to parasitic wasps and flies, which lay their eggs on (or inside!) them. When the eggs hatch, the emerging larvae survive by feasting on the organs and muscles of the caterpillar. 

Image credit: Michael Hodge, Flickr

It may look like Donald Trump's misplaced toupee (it's actually been dubbed the 'Donald Trump caterpillar'), but this flannel moth larva is actually not covered with hair at all. Those silky-looking threads are actually venomous spines that can cause intense, burning pain when touched, making the caterpillar one of the most venomous in the US.

Image credit: Drriss & Marrionn, Flickr

The Hubbard's silk moth (Sphingicampa hubbardi) might not be much to look at, but the larval form of this North American species is nothing short of stunning. With a spine-lined body sporting a brilliant green finish, these caterpillars certainly won't go unnoticed (especially if you have a UV light to bring out their florescent glow). The young caterpillars can be found clinging to the underside of petioles where they feed on leaf bases, while the older larvae have developed a different technique: they prefer to cut through the stalks and bend the leaves down to get at the fleshy rewards. 

Image credit: David Bygott, Flickr

Judging by those furry, curly projections and flattened body, you'd be forgiven for mistaking this caterpillar for a weird hairy spider. Also known as a 'monkey slug', the larva of the hag moth (Phobetron pithecium) can lose one of its shaggy 'appendages' without any ill effects.

Image credit: Greg Dwyer, Wikimedia Commons

With its orange-red warts and fleshy filaments, the larva of the pipevine swallowtail may not be the most fetching (or friendly-looking) caterpillar around ... but it transforms into a real looker. It also stands out thanks to a distinctive diet: the caterpillars feed exclusively on pipevines (which are toxic to most other animals). The ingested toxins are retained and act as a deterrent to predators.

Image credit: Patrick Coin, Flickr

Dubbed the 'jewel caterpillar', this lovely, translucent larva belongs to a family of moths known as Dalceridae. Although scientists are still unsure about the exact function of the caterpillar's translucent, gooey attributes, the leading theory is that the slimy stickiness helps to deter predators. According to Scientific American, the jelly-like 'cones' that cover the body break off easily (sort of like a lizard's tail), helping the caterpillar slip out of a predator's clutches. 

Image credit: Gerardo Aizpuru via Project Noah

If there was an award for cute caterpillar fluffiness, we're pretty sure it would go to the odd-looking, white-haired offspring of the spotted apatelodes moth (which also happens to look just a little bit like Nero from Dangermouse). 

Image credit: j.s clark, Flickr

Caterpillars have a deep bag of tricks when it comes to self-defense ... and the larvae of the spicebush swallowtail have mastered several sneaky strategies. In the early stages, the caterpillar resembles a bird dropping. Later in the life cycle, it develops two pairs of false eyes and begins to resemble the head of a snake ... all in a bid to warn potential predators to back off. 

Image credit: Michael Hodge, Flickr

Instead of colourful stinging spines, the caterpillar of the curve-lined owlet moth prefers to use cunning camouflage to stay safe. Mimicking a dead leaf, it will even copy the motion of a wind-blown leaf when disturbed. 

Image credit: Patrick Coin, Flickr

Although they start off life in an orange shade, Io moth caterpillars turn bright green as they grow (and develop an impressive arsenal of stinging spines). They prefer to travel in company and are often spotted in long, head-to-tail processions.

Image credit: Keegan, Flickr 

Although we can't dig up much information about this bizarre caterpillar from the genus Arsenura, we reckon those crazy projections and bright colours can only be advertising one thing: stay the heck away. According to one theory, the caterpillar may be mimicking a nasty fungus in order to appear unappetising to predators. 

Image credit: Geoff Gallice, Flickr