Bug FAQBlack-waved Flannel Moth
Megalopyge crispata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Megalopygidae
Source: Wikipedia
The black-waved flannel moth has a wingspan of about 2.5 to 4 cm. Adults fly from late spring through early fall, May to October. Caterpillars feed on a variety of trees and shrubs and can sting with venomous hairs, causing pain and skin irritation.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 25 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
The caterpillars have hollow urticating hairs that inject venom, causing pain, burning, swollen lymph nodes, headache and skin inflammation.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives along the U.S. east coast and can be found as far inland as Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars eat the leaves of many trees and shrubs.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In northern areas there is one generation per year, while southern areas may have two or more.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May through October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to the United States, especially the eastern states and inland to Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It belongs to the Megalopygidae family and shares its common names with other flannel moths.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Ohio, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Florida.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What time of year can I see adult black-waved flannel moths?
Adults are active from May to October.
Source: Wikipedia
Can the caterpillars sting me?
Yes, their hairs inject venom that causes painful skin reactions.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Megalopygidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalopyge_crispata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.