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, fire caterpillar, woolly slug, opossum bug, [3] puss moth, tree asp, or asp caterpillar.

Megalopyge is a genus of moths in the family Megalopygidae. Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). " Megalopyge ". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved May 16, 2018.

The southern flannel moth, Megalopyge opercularis (J. E. Smith) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea: Megalopygidae), is an attractive small moth that is best-known because of its larva, the puss caterpillar, which is one of the most venomous caterpillars in the United States (Bishopp 1923; El-Mallakh et al. 1986; Hossler 2010; Khalaf 1975).

Perhaps the most notorious for stinging is the caterpillar of Megalopyge opercularis. Caterpillars have seven pairs of prolegs, while other Lepidopterae have five or fewer pairs. They feed on a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. [2]

2018年5月16日 · Genus Megalopyge Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Print References · Works Cited Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

這種毛蟲俗名叫「貓毛蟲」（puss caterpillar，學名 Megalopyge opercularis），根據新聞報導， 很多美國小孩接觸了之後都劇痛難耐。 其中有些人是因為撫摸了牠們， 有些人則是因為貓毛蟲從樹上掉到他們身上而受傷的。

2020年1月20日 · Caterpillar is densely covered with gray to tan hairs, which form a rusty-red crest along the back. Unlike the similar Lagoa crispata (Megalopyge crispata), it has a tail-like tuft of hairs that stick straight out from the rear end, extending for a …

这照片来自摄影师Jeff Cremer 和生物学家Phil Torres，他们在秘鲁雨林发现这家伙，这毛毛虫名为Megalopyge opercularis，接下来它就会变成飞蛾。 这毛茸茸很可爱，想要摸一摸，那就不要了，这家伙有毒，皮肤会红肿热痛，要持续很多天。

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. 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.

2023年12月30日 · In this study, we used the iNaturalist database to characterize the current temporal and geographic distribution of Megalopygidae in the United States including Puerto Rico. We also describe variations in color and morphology of caterpillars and moths.