Google
WWW MPG website only

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Megalopygidae
57a0040 – 4647   Megalopyge opercularis (Smith, 1797)
             Southern Flannel Moth

© Carol Wolf
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • subcitrina (Walker, 1869) (Miresa)
  • opercularis (Smith, 1797) (Phalaena) - MONA 1983: 4647
  • ssp. a. opercularis (Smith, 1797) (Phalaena) - MONA 1983: 4647
      Type locality: Georgia.
  • lanuginosa (Clemens, 1860) (Pimela) (synonym of ssp. opercularis)
  • ssp. b. bissesa Dyar, 1911 (Megalopyge)
      Type locality: Cuernavaca, MX; Santa Rosa, MX; southern Arizona; Oracle, AZ.
  • Taxonomic Notes: Megalopyge opercularis (Smith, 1797) includes as a subspecies 4646 Megalopyge bissesa Dyar, 1911 in Becker (1995:119).
    References
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) (bissesa) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification, and some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) (opercularis) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification, and some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.
    • Becker, V.O., 1995. 73. Megalopygidae. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Volume 3. Checklist: Part 2. Hyblaeoidea - Pyraloidea - Tortricoidea. Association for Tropical Lepidoptera and Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL, 118-122.
    • Dyar, H.G., 1911. Descriptions of some new species and genera of Lepidoptera from Mexico. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 38(1742): 267.
    • Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
    • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 20.24m; p. 165. Book Review and ordering
    • Sancio, E.P., C.H. Kratzer, J.C. Carlson, 2024. Geographical and temporal distribution of Megalopygidae in the United States and Puerto Rico. Toxicon, X (2024). (Journal Pre-proof)
    • Smith, J.E., 1797. The natural history of the rarer lepidopterous insects of Georgia, 2: 105.
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Gretchen Grammer
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Patrick Coin
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Randy Newman
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Sean McCann
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Rich Hoyer
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Jane & John Balaban
    Megalopyge opercularis
    – © Jim Vargo
    Megalopyge opercularis
    – © Jim Vargo
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Jim Vargo
    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Valerie G. Bugh

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Valerie G. Bugh

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Tom Bentley

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Machele White

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Machele White

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Machele White

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Machele White

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Machele White

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Valerie G. Bugh

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Robert Patterson

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Kim Fleming

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Kim Fleming

    Megalopyge opercularis
    © Hannah Nendick-Mason


    Moth Photographers Group  at the  Mississippi Entomological Museum  at the  Mississippi State University

    Send suggestions, or submit photographs to Webmaster — Moth Photographers Group

    Database design and scripting support provided by Mike Boone