rhamphotheca:

Tiger Moth, Wooly Bear, the moth family Arctiidae

… are known for color, charisma and fuzziness- in some species adults and caterpillars alike. Anyone else feel like there is an unfilled plush toy niche here? As with so many other organisms, bright colors serve a purpose, warning predators that these insects contain unpalatable chemicals. Some Arctiids produce these themselves, while others inherit them from the plants they feed on.

More Tiger Moths: Encyclopedia of Life

Photo: unidentified sp. in Ecuador, Andreas Kay via flickr