![]() It eats leaves from a variety of trees, especially redbud, honey locust, hackberry, and mimosa. Longer hairs occur sparsely over the entire body. There are additional clusters of hairs along the sides. On the black stripe are 2 rows of yellow raised circles bearing clusters of short hairs. Basically, they are yellow with a wide dark stripe down the back. ![]() The caterpillars reach about 1¼ inches long and look polka-dotted with yellow on black. Males have yellowish, featherlike antennae. ![]() White flannel moth ( Norape ovina) adults are all white and are very hairy around the head and thorax. ![]() They feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including oaks, plums, sassafras, willows, and more. Colors can vary widely, from white to cream to caramel to red. Hairs can be long and wispy or short and rather crinkly. The caterpillars look a lot like those of the southern flannel moth, but they lack the “tail” of hairs extending from the rear. Males are more intensely colored, females are paler. crispata) adults are cream-colored with black, wavy lines along the leading edge of the forewing. Black-waved flannel moth, or crinkled flannel moth ( M.They look like kitty cats, but do not touch them - their stings can be intense, to the point of requiring medical attention. They eat leaves of a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. A crest of rusty hairs rise up along the back of the caterpillar, and a few patches of whitish hairs occur in tufts along each side of the back ridge. They reach about 1½ inches long and are densely covered with fine gray or tan hairs that taper in back to form a tail. The caterpillars, called puss caterpillars, can appear teardrop-shaped. The wingspan of female rosy maple moths can get up to two inches in length. Their legs are reddish-pink and the feathery antennae are a golden coloration. Rosy maple moth adults have brilliant pink and bright yellow markings. Southern flannel moth ( Megalopyge opercularis) adults are golden yellow, grading to paler beige at the rear. This colorful moth is one of the smaller silk moths in the family Saturniidae.Apparently three species are likely to be found in Missouri: Most US flannel moths are limited to the desert southwest or the extreme southeast (especially Florida). If you are uncertain about the identification of any hairy or spiny caterpillar, dead or alive, it’s best not to touch it. Flannel moth caterpillars have 7 pairs of prolegs, while all other butterfly and moth caterpillars have 5 or fewer pairs.Ĭaterpillars in many moth families have stinging or irritating hairs, but then again, not all hairy caterpillar species necessarily can irritate or sting. Prolegs are the fleshy, peglike legs along the abdominal segments (that is, behind the pointy, jointed thoracic legs at the front of the caterpillar). Stinging, itching, burning, rash, lesions, dermatitis, swelling, even fever and even nausea can result.Ĭaterpillars of flannel moths differ from those of all other butterflies and moths by their number of prolegs. Reactions vary depending on the type of caterpillar and a person’s individual sensitivity. They do not actively attack people, but if you brush against these caterpillars, stinging hairs, hidden among nonstinging hairs, can poke into your skin and break off, and venom inside the hairs or spines can penetrate your skin (this is a lot like the spines of stinging nettle plants). The females have thin antennae and males have featherlike antennae often, the two sexes have slightly different colorations, too.Ĭaution! The fuzzy, hairy, silky caterpillars in this moth family can sting. Most are whitish, yellowish, or brownish, with few markings. It is one of the smallest species of an American silk moth.Adult flannel moths are chunky-bodied, and the bodies, legs, and wings are very hairy, giving them a fluffy appearance. The rosy maple moth is also known as the great silk moth. They don’t bite, sting, or otherwise cause harm when touched. Yes, it is safe to touch rosy maple moths. The adults-only live for a few days and do not eat during that time. The caterpillars feed on maples, oaks, birches, and other trees. Their bodies contain cyanide compounds, making them unpalatable to birds and other creatures. Their bright color is a warning to predators that they are poisonous. They may look intimidating and evil with their bright colors and fuzzy texture, but in reality, they’re quite harmless. No, rosy maple moths are not dangerous to humans. Are rosy maple moths dangerous to humans? It also possesses “hairs” along its side that can cause itchy skin reactions if touched. The green-striped maple worm has a bright green body with two pink stripes running down its back. These larvae feed on many different species of trees, including oak, apple, willow, and maple (hence the name). Their caterpillar stage is known as the green striped maple worm (Dryocampa rubicunda).
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