Southern Flannel Moth

Description:

Moths: I went outside early in the morning, and I saw two moths, resting under the garage door, outside night light bulb. Both moths were of the same species, and of the same size. They had two antennae, and two compound eyes. They had six jointed legs, and four wings. They had a head, thorax, and an abdomen. Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Megalopygidae Genus: Megalopyge Species: M. opercularis 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 adult moth, is covered in long fur, in colors ranging from dull orange to lemon yellow, with hairy legs, and furry black feet. Southern flannel moth, is a moth of the family Megalopygidae. It 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. 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. Description: Adults are small moths with wingspan of 2.4 cm to 3.6 cm. Antennae: Are bipectinate ( comb-like ) with rami ( teeth ) on two 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. 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. These two moths is alive, and able to move and fly.

Habitat:

M. opercularis, can be found on oaks, elms, citrus, and other trees, and many garden plants, such as roses and ivy. It is distributed throughout the eastern United States, between North Carolina and Florida, the southern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America. The southern flannel moth, is found from New Jersey to Florida, and west to Arkansas and Texas. In north central Florida, puss caterpillars, are most common on various species of oaks, but are also common on elms. Deciduous forests and adjacent areas. Caterpillar hosts: Almond, Apple, Hackberry, Oaks, Orange, Pecan, Persimmon, Roses, and other trees and shrubs. Larvae feed mainly on deciduous trees and shrubs.

Notes:

I went outside early in the morning, and I saw two moths, resting under the garage door, outside night light bulb. Both moths were of the same species, and of the same size. They had two antennae, and two compound eyes. They had six jointed legs, and four wings. They had a head, thorax, and an abdomen. These two moths is alive, and able to move and fly.