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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Megalopygidae
57a0037 – 4643   Megalopyge lacyi (Barnes & McDunnough, 1910)
             Florida Flannel Moth
Distribution Data for Megalopyge lacyi
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Distribution: Possibly central TX to NM. Range is uncertain. Based on larval characteristics, specimens identified as lacyi from southeastern US may represent a regional color variation of crispata (Sancio et al., 2024) or possibly a novel species (Sancio in iNaturalist, pers. comm., 18 Sept., 2022)
Description/
Field Marks:
Records from Florida may refer to Megalopyge crispata (Packard, 1864) and/or a cryptic, possibly undescribed, species.
Similar Species:
  • Megalopyge crispata (Packard, 1864)
  • Megalopyge immaculata (Cassino, 1928) may be conspecific with lacyi. (Sancio et al., 2024)
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • lacyi Barnes & McDunnough 1910 (Lagoa) - MONA 1983: 4643; Type locality: Kerrville, TX
  • laceyi Barnes & McDunnough 1917 (Lagoa)
  • Taxonomic Notes: Megalopyge lacyi was listed in the genus Lagoa in Hodges et al. (1983) (Checklist). This genus was treated as a synonym of Megalopyge by Neumoegen & Dyar (1894). This synonymy was reversed and then reapplied several times since. Becker (1995) reinstated the synonymy.
    References
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification, and some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.
    • Barnes, W.M. & J.H. McDunnough, 1910. New species and varieties of North American Lepidoptera. The Canadian Entomologist, 42: 252.
    • 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.
    • Epstein, M., 1996. Revision and phylogeny of the Limacodid-Group families, with evolutionary studies on Slug Caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 582: 1-102.
    • 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)
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    Megalopyge lacyi
    © Karen Brooks
    Megalopyge lacyi
    © Jason Roberts
    Megalopyge lacyi
    © Machele White
    Megalopyge lacyi
    © Machele White
    Megalopyge lacyi
    © Machele White
    Megalopyge lacyi
    LG – © Jim Troubridge
    Megalopyge lacyi
    25mm – © Jim Vargo

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