Puss Caterpillar (Southern Flannel Moth)
Scientific Name: Megalopyge opercularis
Order & Family: Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae
Size: 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm)
Natural Habitat
Deciduous forests, citrus groves, and garden trees like oak, elm, and hackberry, primarily in the Southern United States.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on a variety of leafy trees and shrubs; adults do not eat.
Behavior Patterns
The larva is covered in long, silky hairs that hide venomous spines. It undergoes complete metamorphosis, spinning a tough silk cocoon after feeding.
Risks & Benefits
Possesses highly venomous spines that cause severe pain, swelling, and rashes upon contact. They are ecosystem decomposers and a food source for some predatory insects.
Identified on: 5/18/2026