Several lepidopteran families include species whose larvae bear urticaceous hairs.

However, many species whose larvae are armed with such hairs have behavioral patterns adapted to present the urticaceous hairs as a defensive threat and to inflict them on any perceived attackers.

Many other species of larvae lack any such localized concentrations of hairs and are armed more generally with urticaceous hairs; even so, they too will lash about frantically if disturbed, making them difficult to handle without suitable equipment.