Puss Caterpillar Information, pg. 1: The puss caterpillar is the larva of an insect in the order Lepidoptera, specifically a flannel moth in the family Megalopygidae (megalo: a combining form with Greek roots meaning "large"; and pygidae: from pyg ē, a Greek word meaning "rump"; thus "exaggerated tail", possibly a reference to the fact that these caterpillars often--but not always--trail a conspicuous tail of hairs). The species cited most often is Megalopyge opercularis, but a number of other species present a similar outer guise, are equipped with near-identical envenomating structures, and produce a similar sting on contact with human skin. Most are now considered to be members of the genus Megalopyge , but the crinkled flannel moth--also known as the black-waved flannel moth--is classified by some authorities as a member of the genus Lagoa  (Lagoa crispata), and by others as Megalopyge crispata. In the pages that follow, because the gross features of most, if not all of these moths are essentially identical, it seems fruitless to distinguish between them here.

The larval stage of this insect is a small (the mature adult is  about 2 cm. long, 1 cm. wide), wooly, pussycat-appearing caterpillar, whose innocent appearance belies the numerous sharp, venom-laden spines, hidden beneath its luxuriant coat of soft hairs. NEXT PAGE. Page  1  *  2  *  3  *  4  *  5  *

TERMITE ENCOUNTERS *  SNAKE ENCOUNTERS * SNAKE BITE FIRST AID * SNAKE EXCLUSION * SPIDER ENCOUNTERS * SPIDER BITE FIRST AID * SPIDER EXTERMINATION * PUSS CATERPILLAR ENCOUNTERS * PUSS CATERPILLAR FIRST AID * PUSS CATERPILLAR EXTERMINATION *  Assembled & Edited by Jerry Cates. Questions? Corrections? Comments? BUG ME RIGHT NOW! ---- Ph: 512-331-1111 ---- E-Mail ---- Privacy ---- BugsInTheNew