Southern Flannel Moth
Megalopyge opercularis (J. E. Smith, 1797)
Family: Megalopygidae
Subfamily:
Identification: Wings and body cream; thorax and FW base orangish. Some blackish and white along basal 2/3 of FW costa, but no sharp wing pattern.
Wing Span: 2.4-3.6 cm
Life History: Larvae resemble small furry cats. They have stinging hairs hidden among tufts of dense, soft hairs. They feed externally on various trees and shrubs.
Flight: All months
Caterpillar Hosts: Almond, apple, hackberry, oaks, orange, pecan, persimmon, roses, and other trees and shrubs
Adult Food:
Habitat: Deciduous forests and adjacent areas
Range: Maryland, to Florida, west to Missouri and Texas. Strays to New York and Pennsylvania.
Conservation:
NCGR: G5
Management Needs: none
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 332 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 23, 2025
Submitted by: kdegeiso
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 24, 2025
Observation date: Dec 27, 2024
Submitted by: LukaCustoms
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 27, 2024
Observation date: Jun 24, 2024
Submitted by: longstrangetrip
Region: Dorchester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: Bugfae
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 27, 2024
Observation date: Nov 05, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: May 08, 2023
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 30, 2022
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 12, 2022
Submitted by: Caranoid
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2018
Submitted by: W Thweatt
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Nov 03, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2021
Submitted by: Homer E
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: Luna-tics
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2022
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: pcmassaro
Region: Spotsylvania County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 27, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: jnchandler
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: Jess D
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: egilley
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: Docriebe
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 20, 2022
Submitted by: JamieLynn
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2021
Submitted by: mel105mma
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 26, 2022
Observation date: Sep 24, 2016
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: KKB530
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 21, 2019
Submitted by: Lorimccracken
Region: Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 10, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2021
Submitted by: nehall
Region: Martinsville, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 18, 2021
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