southern flannel moth Archives - What's Happening Around Florida

Don’t Mess with the Puss Caterpillar!

by Volusia County Master Gardener Volunteers
August 15, 2019

This summer my property has been bombarded by fuzzy teardrop-shaped caterpillars. This fiend is the “puss caterpillar.” It is the larva of the southern flannel moth (Megalopyge opercularis). The puss caterpillar is also known as Italian ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Tags: Southern Flannel Moth

Q: I found this strange looking caterpillar on my tree trunk. Will you identify it for me?

by BLOGS.IFAS
June 25, 2017

A: Your caterpillar is called a puss moth caterpillar. The southern flannel moth, Megalopyge opercularis is an attractive small moth best known because of its larva, the puss caterpillar. The genus name Megalopyge are derived from the Greek ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Tags: Megalopyge Opercularis, Puss Moth Caterpillar, Southern Flannel Moth

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