Flannel moth
family of insects
The flannel moths or crinkled flannel moths (scientific name Megalopygidae) are a family of insects.
Distribution and habitat
Species of ‘‘Megalopyge’’ occur throughout the Neotropical region, from Mexico through Central America and much of South America to Argentina, where the genus reaches its greatest diversity. Approximately 236 species have been recorded within this range. A smaller number extend north of Mexico, with about 11 species documented in the United States and Canada. The family Megalopygidae is restricted to the New World. In Florida, five species of the family have been recorded: three in the genus ‘‘Lagoa’’ and one species each in ‘‘Megalopyge’’ and ‘‘Norape’’.
Life cycle and behavior
Adult 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.
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This entry incorporates text from “Flannel moth” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.