Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Register
·
Log In
Home
Guide
ID Request
Recent
Frass
Forums
Donate
Help
Clickable Guide
Calendar
Upcoming Events
Registration
is open for the
2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho
July 24-27
Moth submissions
from
National Moth Week 2023
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico
, July 20-24
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana
, April 28-May 2
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2019 gathering in Louisiana
, July 25-27
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2018 gathering in Virginia
, July 27-29
Previous events
Taxonomy
Browse
Info
Images
Links
Books
Data
Home
» Guide »
Arthropods (Arthropoda)
»
Hexapods (Hexapoda)
»
Insects (Insecta)
»
Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera)
»
Flannel, Slug Caterpillar, Leaf Skeletonizer Moths and kin (Zygaenoidea)
»
Flannel Moths (Megalopygidae)
»
Megalopyge
»
Southern Flannel Moth - Hodges#4647 (Megalopyge opercularis)
Photo#4905
Copyright © 2004
Cotinis
Southern Flannel Moth -
Megalopyge opercularis
-
Hwy 55 and Sedwick, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
July 15, 2004
Found at a lighted wall at an all-night self-service car wash. I am presuming this is a male due to the plumose antennae.
Image updated 11/6/21.
Images of this individual:
tag all
tag
·
login
or
register
to post comments
Contributed by
Cotinis
on 16 July, 2004 - 10:18pm
Last updated 6 November, 2021 - 1:50pm
i was strung also.
I agree that this larva is dangerous. The worst pain I ever had. Put my left hand down on the grass to support myself as I was getting up from the lawn. Got strung on the little finger. Within five minutes I felt a stabbing pain in my armpit and my little finger was swollen to the point that I could not bend it. I took benadryl and went to bed at five o'clock PM. The day was over for me.
…
richardgillmore
, 2 November, 2005 - 9:36pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Wow
That sounded horrible. I've read about the flannel moths and the caterpillars and I think the defense is pretty cool but getting stung by the moth or the caterpillar or both is not so pretty. Sorry to hear that you got stung.
…
Brittanie McCormack
, 21 June, 2006 - 7:35pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Wow
This thing is amazing. I hope I can find one some day.
…
Lynette Elliott
, 2 February, 2005 - 5:54pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Puss Caterpillar-flannel moth
Lynette, if your in an area to see one be careful of the larvae. I brushed up against one of these 6 years ago while picking a pear out of my pear tree and was stung. I would have swore someone cut off my finger and was pouring boiling water into it. The pain was unbelievable and the finger immediately began to swell. We scooted 3 of the catepillars off the tree with a leaf and put them in a ziplock bag. The five mile drive to the emergency room was terrifying. The pain like a thermometer moved it's way up my arm toward my heart. As we entered the emergency room I began to feel the pain in my chest and was rushed to a bed. Within minutes I began to have a metal taste in my mouth as I went unconscious. No one knew what they were. It took the head of the emergency room leaving to look it up on the internet. (My husband told me later they used a paper plate and made what looked like a circus tent over the bag with a little sign... "Can you name the animal?") I'm 5 foot tall and was 115 pounds at the time. The entire event took less than 15 minutes until I went unconscious. My hand remained swollen for about a week. With a punch like that, I don't think I'd touch the moth either. I'm terrified of them. It's no wonder they also call them the "ASP" caterpillar in Texas. I was stung in Maryland.
…
phoenix9-9-01
, 9 September, 2005 - 2:43pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Have you seen this website?
http://nba.uth.tmc.edu/homepage/eagleman/asp
They want to hear from people who have been stung by this caterpillar.
…
Su Lyn Rogers
, 10 October, 2006 - 12:10am
login
or
register
to post comments
Caterpillar
It sounds like you had a terrible experience! I definitely don't touch any hairy caterpillars, since I know some can sting. Thanks for the warning and for sharing your story.
…
Lynette Elliott
, 9 September, 2005 - 3:09pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Comment viewing options
Flat list - collapsed
Flat list - expanded
Threaded list - collapsed
Threaded list - expanded
Date - newest first
Date - oldest first
10 comments per page
30 comments per page
50 comments per page
70 comments per page
90 comments per page
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.