Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1311978

Southern Flannel Moth
Megalopyge opercularis

Observation date: September 03, 2021
Submitted by: Kelly Bradford
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: I noticed this thing crawling on my arm in my parked car off I-26 in SC on the way home from Isle of Palms (near Charleston) . I felt a sting and looked down and immediately freaked out and flung it off me ( I have a bad insect phobia). It landed on the dashboard where I took a couple pics then used a notepad to remove it from my car and took the other pic. This has caused me to have nightmares. I have no idea how it got in my car, I'm assuming it came from the trees around the house we rented at the beach
Status: Resident
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: September 18, 2021
Coordinator notes: None.