The female is generally larger and also differs in having a grey hindwing and sometimes forewing. But you should avoid it at any cost, because it packs a powerful, painful secret.
It’s called the puss moth caterpillar, and it’s found in trees and garden plants between North Carolina and Florida. Megalopyge opercularis is a moth of the family Megalopygidae.It has numerous common names, including southern flannel moth for its adult form, and puss caterpillar, asp, Italian asp, woolly slug, opossum bug, puss moth, tree asp, or asp caterpillar for its larval form. Due to their painful bite, this species is also called ‘asp’ caterpillars as their bite can be as painful as a snake’s one. Male southern flannel moth– Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida. The name of ‘puss caterpillar’ comes from the fact that they look like tiny Persian cats. It’s called the puss moth caterpillar, and it’s found in trees and garden plants between North Carolina and Florida. The southern flannel moth was originally described by J. E. Smith (1797) and named Phalaena opercularis (common name, waved yellow egger moth). I shot this with the DIY macro-fisheye rig based on a CCTV lens relayed through … When a puss moth caterpillar rubs or is pressed against a person’s skin, its venomous hairs are embedded, usually causing severe burning and a rash. Puss moth caterpillars (Megalopyge opercularis), of the order Lepidoptera, are also known as asps. The caterpillar is disruptively patterned in green and purplish brown, making it very difficult to find when at rest among green foliage. The striking caterpillar feeds on aspen (Populus tremula) as well as poplar (Populus spp.) Occasionally, the reaction is more severe, causing swelling, nausea, and difficulty breathing. The puss moth is a generally medium sized species of moth that is found across Europe and in parts of North Africa.The puss moth is not to be confused with the cat-like North American puss moth that is well-known for the incredibly hairy appearance of its caterpillar.The puss moth caterpillar of Europe is not so hairy but is known to have some very distinctive features themselves. The Puss Moth (Cerura vinula) - Family: Notodontidae As a reminder, my project involves the examination of the evolution and function of caterpillar eyespots. Throughout my blog you can now find a few great examples of the kinds of caterpillars I am talking about (e.g., Therinia transversaria , Xylophanes germen , Prepona sp.
This caterpillar gives a nasty bite and is also called a puss moth, woolly slug, or Italian asp. The name “puss caterpillar” is likely in reference to the caterpillar’s resemblance to a cat with its soft fur and tail. Puss moth A large white or greyish-white furry moth, the Puss moth is named after the cat-like appearance of the adult. The eccentric beatuy of the Puss moth caterpillar, turns into an elegant Puss moth. Puss moth caterpillars are endemic to the southern US and live in shade trees and shrubbery around homes and schools and in parks. Cerura vinula Puss moth caterpillar 70mm This puss moth caterpillar was climbing up one of the countless shrub like balsam poplars girding the beach in Byrum, Öland.
This tiny caterpillar looks pretty cute at first. Puss moth caterpillar by Valerie Bugh (c) (AustinBug.com) This cute little fella, Megalopyge opercularis (left), goes by the name puss, tree asp, or southern flannel moth caterpillar.