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Species Megalopyge opercularis - Southern Flannel Moth - Hodges#4647
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
Species opercularis (Southern Flannel Moth - Hodges#4647)
Other Common Names Puss Caterpillar, Asp, "gusano-pollo" & "perrito" (Spanish) Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Megalopyge opercularis (J.E. Smith)
Phalaena opercularis J.E. Smith 1797 (1)
Megalopyge bissesa Dyar, 1911
Phylogenetic sequence #140625 Explanation of Names Puss Caterpillar refers to cat-like form of caterpillar, perhaps. Asp refers to sting of caterpillar, is a local name used in Texas (2). Size Wingspan 24-36 mm.
Larvae to 30 mm. Identification Note orange thorax and base of forewings. Sexually dimorphic.
Female (thread-like antennae) has weak markings, though is still yellowish:
Male (feathery antennae) has stronger markings:
Caterpillar is densely covered with gray to tan hairs, which form a rusty-red crest along the back. Unlike the similar Lagoa crispata (Megalopyge crispata), it has a tail-like tuft of hairs that stick straight out from the rear end, extending for a length greater than two body segments. (2):
Range se US to NJ, also se AZ - Map (MPG) Habitat Deciduous forests and adjacent areas Season mostly: May-Oct; all year in TX, FL (MPG data) Food Larvae are polyphagous (Heppner 1997) and are recorded from plant species belonging to 41 genera (3). Some host records may be erroneous.
In north central Florida, puss caterpillars are most common on various species of oaks but are also common on elms. - UFL
In Arizona, the known larval hosts of M. o. bissesa include Quercus oblongifolia (Mexican blue oak) and Arctostaphylos sp. (manzanita). Life Cycle larval development takes about six weeks (Micks 1956) Remarks Caution, caterpillars have painful sting.
Occasionally, in outbreak years, puss caterpillars are sufficiently numerous to defoliate some trees (Bishopp 1923). However, their main importance is medical. In Texas, they have been so numerous in some years that schools in San Antonio in 1923 and Galveston in 1951 were closed temporarily because of stings to children (Diaz JH. 2005. The evolving global epidemiology, syndromic classification, management, and prevention of caterpillar envenoming. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 72: 347-357) See Also Black-waved Flannel Moth - Megalopyge (Lagoa) crispata
 - Range: e. US Print References Smith, J.E. & J. Abbot, 1797. The natural history of the rarer lepidopterous insects of Georgia. J. Edwards, Cadell & Davies, and J. White, London., vol. 2: 105; Pl.53. (1)
Dyar, H.G., 1911. Descriptions of new species and genera of Lepidoptera from Mexico. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 38: 267.
Bishopp FC. 1923. The puss caterpillar and the effects of its sting on man. United States Department of Agriculture. Department Circular 288. 14 pp.
Davidson FF. 1967. Biology of laboratory-reared Megalopyge opercularis Sm. & Abb. Morphology and histology of the stinging mechanism. Texas Journal of Science 19(3): 258-274.
Diaz JH. 2005. The evolving global epidemiology, syndromic classification, management, and prevention of caterpillar envenoming. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 72: 347-357.
Heppner JB. 1997. Urticating caterpillars in Florida: 3. Puss caterpillar and flannel moths (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. Gainesville, Florida. Entomology Circular No. 381. 2 pp.
Micks DW. 1956. Laboratory rearing of the puss caterpillar, with notes on the incidence of parasitism. Journal of Economic Entomology 49: 37-39.
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. plate 20, fig. 24; p.165. (4)
Wagner, p. 55--photo of larva (two different instars), adult (2)
Covell p. 412, plate 56 #12 (5)Internet References Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
Featured Creatures - Donald W. Hall, University of Florida, 2013
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - species account with collection map and photos of pinned adults.
Works Cited | 1. | The Natural History of the Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia.
James Edward Smith & John Abbot. 1797. J. Edwards, Cadell & Davies, and J. White, London. 2 vols., 214 pp., 104 pl. . | |
| 2. | Caterpillars of Eastern North America
David L. Wagner. 2005. Princeton University Press. |  |
| 4. | Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press. | |
| 5. | Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths
Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company. | |
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