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. The larvae are called puss caterpillars, and with their long hairs, resemble cotton balls. 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.
A Megalopyge opercularis caterpillar on Kent Island, Maryland: a highly toxic species
Genera[]
- Aithorape
- Cephalocladia
- Coamorpha
- Edebessa
- Endobrachys
- Eochroma
- Hysterocladia
- Macara
- Malmella
- Megalopyge
- Mesoscia
- Microcladia
- Microrape
- Norape
- Norapella
- Podalia
- Proterocladia
- Psychagrapha
- Repnoa
- Thoscora
- Trosia
- Vescoa
- Zyzypyge
References[]
|
This page uses content that though originally imported from the Wikipedia article Flannel moth might have been very heavily modified, perhaps even to the point of disagreeing completely with the original wikipedia article. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. The text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Licence. |