These plants are used by a number of butterfly species in the western US, including the West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella), Satyr (Polygonia satyrus), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), and Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milberti). As their name implies, the plant is capable of inflicting nasty, itchy stings from it’s thousands of small spiney hairs if not handles VERY carefully. The spines are fairly weak and not easily able to penetrate thicker skin, but thin skin such as on the forearm or back of the hand are no trouble!
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