Subject: Bizarre moth mimicking crayfish
Location: Columbia, NJ
July 1, 2014 5:22 am
We saw this moth on our camper near the Delaware Water Gap, it looked odd, when it flew a short distance and landed it took on a completely different shape…a tiny crayfish! How does a moth evolve to mimick such a creature?
Signature: SeanK

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth looks like Crayfish

Dear SeanK,
The illusion you describe is quite effective, and the outline of this moth does look like a Crayfish.  We wish your image had more detail.  Our best guess is possibly a Saddleback Caterpillar Moth, Acharia stimulea, which is also pictured on BugGuide.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Puss Moth or Flannel Moth from Mexico: possibly Mangrove Flannel Moth Saddleback Caterpillar Moth Black Waved Flannel Moth Slug Caterpillar Moth from Philippines

Subject: Who dat?
Location: Reston va
June 19, 2014 1:04 pm
My son found this odd critter on our screen. Location- Reston va
Signature: Buggin

Saddleback Caterpillar Moth

Hi Buggin,
We spent many vacations in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Reston because our uncle was one of the first contractors to begin building in the model town, but we haven’t seen it since 1980, and we expect much has changed.  This is a Saddleback Caterpillar Moth as you can see from this matching image on BugGuide.  Though we have not shortage of stinging Saddleback Caterpillar images, this is the first we have posted of the adult moth.

0   I like This

Related posts:

Flannel Moth from Costa Rica Spiny Oak Slug Moth Skiff Moth Black Waved Flannel Moth

Subject: Never seen this till NOW
Location: Conroe, Texas
May 9, 2014 11:10 pm
I woke up on morning at about 9-10AM the day looked foggy as if it had showered the night before. I let my dogs out my backdoor and I see this orange insect attached to the outer side of the glass of door. I looked closer at it and it looked furry/fuzzy had two white antennae flipped back towards it sides almost. I noticed it had 3 black legs on one side from the point of view I held. Which would mean it had 6 black legs in total. I looked towards its bottom and it looked like it had wings but not the butterfly kind but the beetle kind (short and tucked in) No Idea what it is but it has been bothering me. I posted it in social media and have yet to find an answer as to what the insect is.
Signature: Brandi Hernandez

Southern Flannel Moth

Hi Brandi,
When social media fails you, turn to What’s That Bug?  This is a Southern Flannel Moth, Megalopyge opercularis, and we verified our identification on BugGuide.  The stinging caterpillars of the Southern Flannel Moth which are called Asps, are more commonly encountered than the adult moths.

Wow! Y’all are quick! Thank You! Finally I can rest. Who knew touching them when they’re just caterpillars can be venomous though they look harmless because of their fuzzy appearance.
Thank You!

1   I like This

Related posts:

Flannel Moth from Mexico likely Thoscora acca Spotted Apatelodes did not molt into Inverted Y Slug Moth Southern Flannel Moth Puss Moth

Subject: Fuzzy Flying Yellow Insect
Location: Anderson, SC
July 14, 2013 10:42 pm
Hello Bugman,
My brother took this photo in Anderson, SC. I am very curious to know what kind of bug it is.
Signature: Thank you, Rachel

Flannel Moth

Hi Rachel,
This is one of the Flannel Moths in the genus Megalopyge, most likely the Southern Flannel Moth, Megalopyge opercularis, which you may find on BugGuide.  The stinging caterpillar is sometimes called an Asp. 

1   I like This

Related posts:

Flannel Moth from Mexico likely Thoscora acca Spotted Apatelodes did not molt into Inverted Y Slug Moth Southern Flannel Moth Puss Moth

Subject: Fuzzy looking bug
Location: central-south Mexico – Tabasco/Campeche
February 4, 2013 2:49 pm
Found this bug in December while road-triping through Mexico. Stopped at a gas station and there it was, lying on the side of the building.
Hope you can help.
Signature: Kelly

Flannel Moth

Hi Kelly,
Based on similar looking moths on BugGuide, we believe this is a Flannel Moth in the family Megalopygidae, but we have not had any luck matching an exact photo.  Perhaps it is in the genus Megalopyge , and it looks somewhat similar to this image of Megalopyge bissesa from The Moth Photographers Group, but again, it does not appear to be an exact match.  The Hétérocères de Guyane Française Megalopygidae page has numerous mounted specimens, but none that we can say conclusively looks like your individual.  Perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide assistance.

Karl agrees with Flannel Moth ID.
Hi Daniel. Based on overall appearance, posture and visible wing venation I would have to agree that it is probably a Flannel Moth (Megalopygidae). I think it is probably in the genus Thoscora, a neotropical genus with seven or eight species. Unfortunately, online information is extremely sparse for all the species and I can’t come up with a conclusive identification. It looks very close to Thoscora acca, but I couldn’t find any information that this species occurs north of Costa Rica. However, this may just be due to a lack of information. The Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) site shows an assortment of mounted T. acca, and the Hétérocères de Guyane Française Megalopygidae page that you linked to has several subspecies of T. acca (other sites regard these as distinct species) as well as two other species. Mounted specimens offer some clear advantages for identification as all features are revealed.  However, I find that other information such as natural posture is lost, which sometimes makes it difficult to recognize a species when it is compared to a photo of a live specimen.  My best guess would be that it is Thoscora acca. Regards.  Karl

We like your identification Karl.  Has anyone told you that you are awesome lately?

Wow! Thanks so much for replying so quickly! I thought the little guy must have been some sort of moth, but wasn’t exactly sure.  The camera-phone pic doesn’t do it justice, and I was eager to find its identity so I could properly depict it in some of my artwork.
Thanks again!

1   I like This

Related posts:

Spotted Apatelodes did not molt into Inverted Y Slug Moth Puss Moth Bug of the Month October 2015: Southern Flannel Moth Puss Moth