- Megalopygidae
-
Crinkled Flannel Moths 
Megalopyge opercularis Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Megalopygidae Genera See text
Megalopygidae is the technical name of a group of insect species known generally as crinkled flannel moths, or simply Flannel Moths. 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.
Genera
- Aithorape
- Alimera
- Alpis
- Anarchylus
- Archylus
- Bedalia
- Carama
- Cephalocladia
- Chrysopyga
- Cistissa
- Coamorpha
- Cyclara
- Edebessa
- Endobrachys
- Eochroma
- Gasina
- Gois
- Hysterocladia
- Isochroma
- Lagoa
- Langucys
- Macara
- Mallatodesma
- Malmella
- Malmis
- Megalopyge
- Mesoscia
- Microcladia
- Microrape
- Norape
- Norapella
- Ochrosoma
- Oylothrix
- Pimela
- Podalia
- Praenorape
- Proterocladia
- Psychagrapha
- Ramaca
- Repnoa
- Saltiga
- Sciathos
- Sulychra
- Thoscora
- Trosia
- Ulosota
- Unduzia
- Vescoa
- Zebonda
- Zyzypyge
References
- Natural History Museum genus database
- Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota
- BugGuide
- USGS--Caterpillars of Eastern Forests
- Auburn University
- Moths of Borneo--lists the family as neotropical
- Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension
- Ohio State University
This article relating to the Zygaenoidea superfamily is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
