Southern Flannel Moth (Megalopyge opercularis)

Description

They are sexually dimorphic, with females larger than males. The females also have thin antennae, while the males have long and feathery antennae.

The forewings appear yellow with black patches near the costal margins. In males, the black coloration is more prominently visible. The hind wings are creamy yellow in both males and females. The hair-like setae covering their wings are white, while the portion surrounding their thorax is orange.

Distribution: Throughout the Eastern United States from southeastern Virginia to Florida, Southern United States, Mexico, and some parts of Central America

Habitat: Deciduous forests and gardens mostly found around plants likeelm, oak, wild plum, ivy, roses

Do they bite: Yes, the caterpillar stage of this moth is infamous for their painful sting

Lifespan: Not recorded

Predator: Wasps, green lacewings, flies

Behavior and Characteristics

Diet

The larva feeds on the leaves of several plants like apple, orange, hackberry, rose, pecan, and persimmon. The adult moths consume the nectar of host plants.

Life Cycle

The southern flannel moth has two broods per year, one in early summer and the other in fall. The females mate on the very first night after emerging from the cocoon. They lay their eggs on the first and second night of mating on the foliage or in between twigs. She protects the hair by covering them with the hair from the undersides of her abdomen.

1. Egg Stage

The eggs are 1.2 mm long and 0.6 mm wide. They have a light yellow coloration, appearing a little rounded towards the end. The eggs take between six and eight days to hatch into a larva.

2. Larva Stage

The larva of the southern flannel moth has a fluffy, furry body closely resembling a Persian cat, resulting in its alternate name, puss caterpillar. The number of instars the larvae go through isn’t definite, five being the least and ten the most. In the first two instars, they are yellow, turning to greenish–white and then white in the later instars. As they progress to the later instar stage, their body is barely visible since it remains covered by the thick layer of setae. The setae or fur has hollow spines with a venom gland near the base. These deadly spines can barely be seen since they remain hidden under the furry setae.

The larvae of most moth families have five pairs of prolegs. The flannel moth larvae are an exception, with seven prolegs pairs.

3. Pupa Stage

Their abdominal segments are moveable, with the dorsal part of these segments having spiny projections. The cocoon encasing the pupa is about 2cm long with a hair pocket at the back. These cocoons are hardy and tough, seen hanging from trees even after the emergence of the adult moth.

Do the Caterpillars of the Southern Flannel Moth Sting

The caterpillars of the southern flannel moth produce a painful sting in humans with their venomous spines upon contact. The sting is excruciating, with victims comparing the pain to a broken bone. Most of the symptoms are localized and confined to the affected area. However, it can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, fever, blisters, and even chest pain and abdominal distress in severe cases.