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The flannel moths or crinkled flannel moths (scientific name Megalopygidae) are a family of insects. They occur in North America (11 species) and the New World tropics.
| Flannel moth | |
|---|---|
| |
| Megalopyge opercularis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Zygaenoidea |
| Family: | Megalopygidae Herrich-Schäffer, 1855 |
| Genera | |
|
See text | |
Distribution and habitat
editThese moths occur in North America and the New World tropics.[citation needed]
Life cycle and behavior
editAdult flannel moths are stout-bodied, and very hairy. Females have thin antennae while males' are feather-like. Larvae are called puss caterpillars and, with their long hairs, resemble cotton balls. They are eaten by green lacewing insects and the Anolis lizards. They have venomous spines that can cause a painful sting and inflammation lasting for several days. In some cases, the sting may cause headache, nausea, and shock-like symptoms. Perhaps the most notorious for stinging is the caterpillar of Megalopyge opercularis. Caterpillars have seven pairs of prolegs, while other Lepidopterae have five or fewer pairs. They feed on a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs.[1]
Genera
editReferences
edit- ^ "Missouri Department of Conservation: Flannel moths". Retrieved 22 September 2022.
Sources
edit- Natural History Museum genus database
- "Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota". cedarcreek.umn.edu. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2006-05-11.
- BugGuide
- USGS--Caterpillars of Eastern Forests
- Auburn University Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- Moths of Borneo—lists the family as neotropical
- Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension
- Ohio State University
External links
edit
Media related to Megalopygidae at Wikimedia Commons
