Packsaddle

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "packsaddle" is the folk name for the saddleback caterpillar, a spiky green-and-brown insect known for its painful sting.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #Nature #Southern

synonyms: stinging caterpillar, packsaddle bug

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I once had a 'packsaddle' land on my neck and I accidentally rolled it across with my hand - messed me up pretty good. It's all I've ever known them to be called.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I once had a 'packsaddle' land on my neck and I accidentally rolled it across with my hand - messed me up pretty good. It's all I've ever known them to be called.

Pronunciation

[PAK-sad-ul]
/ˈpækˌsæd.əl/

Meaning & Usage

- A stinging caterpillar with a "saddle" mark (noun)

Earl:

What’s that on the leaf?

Hazel:

Don’t touch it - that’s a packsaddle. You’ll be itchin’ all week.

variations: saddleback caterpillar

★ The sting from a packsaddle can feel like a wasp or worse. Country kids were taught early: "If it’s pretty, don’t touch it." ★

Origin and Etymology

The name comes from the insect’s bold green patch that looks like a packsaddle on a mule’s back. The term was passed down in rural Southern and Appalachian communities, where encounters with the bug were common.

Usage Notes

Still remembered as a childhood warning in the South and Appalachia.
Less known outside the region, where it’s usually called the "saddleback caterpillar."
Represents the way folk life named creatures after familiar farm objects.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What is a packsaddle?

In this context, it’s the Southern name for the saddleback caterpillar, a stinging insect.

Why is it called a packsaddle?

Because the green patch on its back looks like a little packsaddle on a mule.

Are packsaddles dangerous?

Their sting is painful and can cause swelling or irritation, but usually not serious unless allergic.

Is this name used outside the South?

Rarely. Elsewhere it’s called the saddleback caterpillar. "Packsaddle" is the folk name passed down in Southern/Appalachian talk.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 30). Packsaddle. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/packsaddle
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Packsaddle." HillbillySlang.com, 30 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/packsaddle.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Packsaddle." HillbillySlang.com. September 30, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/packsaddle.