Caterpillars of the
World - Peru
Flannel moth
Megalopyge
( species
unidentified, ref 073 )
Family -
MEGALOPYGIDAE
subfamily -
MEGALOPYGINAE
Tribe -
introduction
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habitats & distribution |
adult
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Megalopyge sp ( ref 073 ), Peru
( image
courtesy
© David Fischer ) |
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Introduction
This fluffy
caterpillar looks "friendly" enough to pick up, but to do so would be
unwise. Hidden under the soft hairs are poisonous spines which
pierce the skin and can cause an extreme allergic reaction
resulting in rashes, blisters, inflammation, and breathing
difficulty.
There are about
220 species in the family Megalopygidae, the vast majority of
which are found in the neotropics, with a few representatives in
North America and Africa.
Virtually all the
species have bizarre and often very beautiful caterpillars, but
the adult moths are by comparison extremely dull, generally being
blackish or ochreous in colour.
Habitats and
distribution
I have found 2 larvae
of this species, both in Peru. One was found on a sapling at the
roadside at 1300m in the eastern Andes, and the other was found on
palm leaves in a glade in primary forest at 400m on the Rio Madre
de Dios.
Adult
The adult illustrated
below is a closely related species from Brazil,
Megalopyge albicollis.
Megalopyge albicollis, Rio Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil
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