So you think you're having a bad hair day?
Above is a Black-waved Flannel Moth caterpillar. These moths and their caterpillars are found throughout eastern North America in deciduous forests. The caterpillars of all members of this genus (Megalopyge) should not be handled because they can cause skin irritation or a sting.
A male Black-waved Flannel Moth
Compared to the female, the make is darker, more yellow and has the dark waves on his wings that give this species its common name.
As with many moth species, the male also has larger, fuller antennae than the female. The male uses his antennae to locate a female by "smelling" the pheromones she releases.
The female Black-waved Flannel Moth is whiter than the male and has more thread-like antennae.
Source: BugGuide
The Black-waved Flannel Moth is splendid. I have not seen one of them here for a long time. Nor anything that even looked like one.
ReplyDeleteAbraham Lincoln
—Brookville Daily Photo
Hmmmm... It looks like my hair would look if I were in your neck of the woods, Marvin!
ReplyDeleteThe name is quite fitting for the moth. That caterpillar is scary, but I know if my girls saw it they would say, "OOOHHHHH, it's so CUUUUUTE." Then it would take all my energy to keep them from touching it. It is sorting of asking to be touched, even if it looks a bit frightening to me.
Awwwwwww that caterpillar is cute. Not nice though, if it will sting or cause irritation.
ReplyDeleteBut... cute just the same. :-)
Kind of like a lot of things...
Maybe like a lot of people too...
>,-)
Miss Mari-Nanci
thx marvin, i'll stay away from those 'pillars ;)
ReplyDeletecan't recall seeing adults before
An informative post with excellent photography as usual, Marvin.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy visiting your blog!
Wow, that caterpillar is something else! Not that the adult moths aren't hairy enough, on their own! *LOL* Very cool.
ReplyDeleteYep, my hair looks similar to this on our hot humid days. Nice shots of the moths too.
ReplyDeleteWow...this one is beautiful in it's own way too! I've never seen one of these.
ReplyDeleteOK. One more comment(s).
ReplyDeleteLoved the moth.
Great leafhopper. New for me.
Terrific photos of the Sphinx.
Scarabs are alway nice and that's a great photo.
Troy