Southern Flannel Moth

Description:

Family: Megalopygidae Genus: Megalopyge - The moth, Megalopyge opercularis, has numerous common names, including: southern flannel moth, for its adult form, and puss moth, puss caterpillar, tree asp, and the asp caterpillar, for its larval form. This moth, is visually striking, in both larval and adult forms. The inch-long larva, is generously coated in long, luxuriant hair-like setae, making it resemble a tiny Persian cat, the characteristic that presumably gave it the name "puss". It is variable in color, from downy grayish-white, to golden-brown, to dark charcoal gray. The "fur" of the larva, contains venomous spines, that cause extremely painful reactions in human skin, upon contact. The adult moth, is covered in long fur, in colors ranging from dull orange to lemon yellow, with hairy legs, and fuzzy black feet. It is distributed throughout the eastern UnitedvStates, between North Carolina and Florida, and the southern United States. The larva does not spin a real cocoon, rather it separates from its furry skin, and uses it as a protective covering, while it pupates. The southern flannel moth, is an attractive small moth, that is best known because of its larva, the puss caterpillar, which is one of the most venomous caterpillars in the United States. The southern flannel moth, is the most common of the five species of Megalopygids, found in the southeastern United States. The southern flannel moth, is found from New Jersey to Florida, and west to Arkansas and Texas. Adults, are small moths, with a wingspan of 2.4 to 3.6 cm. The common name "flannel moth", is due to the thick coating of fur-like setae, on the bodies, which is predominantly orange on the thorax. Antennae, are bipectinate ( comb-like ), with rami ( teeth ), on both sides. Eggs: The light yellow eggs, average 1.2 mm in length, and 0.6 mm in width, and are slightly rounded on the ends. Cocoons: The cocoons vary in size, from 1.3 cm to 2.0 cm. It had two, bipectinate antennae. It had two, compound eyes. Its head, thorax, abdomen, legs, and wings, were very Furry! It's head, was different shades of orange-brownish coloring. It's thorax, was different shades of orange-brownish coloring. It's abdomen, was different shades of orange-brownish coloring. The top of the wings, had some black and white coloring on it. Also, it had different shades of orange-brownish coloring on it too. The legs were very furry. The top portion of the leg, had a white color to it, and the bottom portion of the leg, had a black and gray color to it. It had a head, thorax, and an abdomen. It had four wings. It had fuzzy black feet. This beautiful moth was alive, and able to fly.

Habitat:

I saw this beautiful moth, resting on the front door, of my house. It can be found on oaks, elms, citrus, and other trees, and many garden plants, such as roses and ivy.

Notes:

I went outside at 7:00 a.m. in the morning. I saw a beautiful, furry moth, resting on the front door, of my house. It had two, bipectinate antennae. It had two, compound eyes. It's head, thorax, abdomen, legs, and wings, were very Furry! It's head, was different shades of orange-brownish coloring. It's thorax, was different shades of orange-brownish coloring. It's abdomen, was different shades of orange-brownish coloring. The top of the wings, had some black and white coloring on it. Also, it had different shades of orange-brownish coloring on it too. The legs were very furry. The top portion of the leg, had a white color to it, and the bottom portion of the leg, had a black and gray color to it. It had a head, thorax, and an abdomen. It had four wings. It had fuzzy black feet. This beautiful moth was alive, and able to fly.