Genus Megalopyge

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Print References · Works Cited

Southern Flannel Moth - Megalopyge opercularis - male

Megalopyge caterpillar - Megalopyge crispata

Southern Flannel Moth - Megalopyge opercularis

Southern Flannel Moth - Hodges#4647 (Megalopyge opercularis) - Megalopyge opercularis - male

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Zygaenoidea (Flannel, Slug Caterpillar, Leaf Skeletonizer Moths and kin)

Family Megalopygidae (Flannel Moths)

Genus Megalopyge

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Megalopyge Hübner, 1820

Alphis Walker, 1855

Chrysopyga Herrich-Schäffer, 1855

Cyclara Schaus, 1896

Gasina Walker, 1855

Lagoa Harris, 1841

Ochrosoma Herrich-Schäffer, 1856

Oylothrix Clemens, 1860

Pimela Clemens, 1860

Podalia Walker, 1856

Zebonda Walker, 1865

Explanation of Names

Lagoa Harris, 1841 was treated as a synonym of Megalopyge in Neumoegen & Dyar (1894). This synonymy was reversed and then reapplied several times since. Dyar (1903) & (1910) treated Lagoa as a valid species. Forbes (1923) and Hopp in Seitz (1934) followed the synonymy. McDunnough (1937) recognized Lagoa as did Davis in the Hodges 1983 Checkist (1). Becker (1995) (2), Epstein & Becker (1995) (3) and Epstein (1996) (4) placed Lagoa back as a synonym of Megalopyge, having found no reason for overturning the synonymy. Pohl et al. (2016) (5) followed Becker (1995). - paraphrased from comments by Marc Epstein 5/15/2018

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists seven species for North America, including some that were formerly assigned to the genus Lagoa.

Print References

Hopp, W. 1934-1935. Megalopygidae. In A. Seitz. editor. The Macrolepidoptera of the World. 6:1071-1101. Stuttgart: Alfred Keman. [Plates published in 1935.]

Neumoegen, B. & H.G. Dyar, 1894. Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America North of Mexico. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 2: 110, 173.

Works Cited

1.	Check list of the Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico. Hodges, et al. (editors). 1983. E. W. Classey, London. 284 pp.

2.	The Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 2 Becker, V.O. Megalopygidae. in J.B. Heppner (ed.). in J.B. Heppner (ed.). 1995. Association for Tropical Lepidoptera and Scientific Publishers, 118-122.

3.	The Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 2 Becker, V.O. & M.E. Epstein. Limacodidae. in J.B. Heppner (ed.). 1995. Association for Tropical Lepidoptera and Scientific Publishers, 128-133.

4.	Revision and phylogeny of the Limacodid-Group families, with evolutionary studies on Slug Caterpillars Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea Marc E. Epstein. 1996. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 582.

5.	Annotated taxonomic checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America, North of Mexico Pohl, G.R., Patterson, B., & Pelham, J.P. 2016. ResearchGate.net.

Contributed by Cotinis on 30 June, 2004 - 8:08am
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Last updated 16 May, 2018 - 2:23pm

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