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Moth of the Week: Southern Flannel Moth, Megalopyge opercularis

Meet the Southern Flannel Moth, M. opercularis! Coming from the family Megalopygidae, these moths are striking both as caterpillars and imagoes. Found from parts of the Southern United States to Central America, these moths are found throughout the summer.

Caterpillars have achieved a certain degree of notoriety. Although they might look cute and fuzzy, they are among—if not the most—poisonous caterpillars in North America. Their “fur” is actually stinging spines which they use for defense. The pain that they cause has been described as being akin to set on fire, and can cause nausea, headaches, swelling, and sometimes unconsciousness. If you’re stung by one, treat yourself by removing the spines with tape and putting an ice pack on the affected area, then call poison control. Caterpillars like to eat the leaves of certain trees such as oak, and plants like roses and ivy. They are also called asp caterpillars.

Southern Flannel Moths do not spin cocoons. Rather, they use a shed layer of their spiny exoskeleton to pupate in. They emerge after about two weeks, and the adult does not eat. The adult moth is quite pretty, with black feet and color schemes that can range from a rusty orange to a light beige. They are fuzzy, and have oddly wavy layers of scales to keep them warm when they fly at night.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/4476/bgimage

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/caterpillar/caterpillar.htm

http://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3010/

(via kriceratops)

(Source: askthethunderer, via jakeenglish)