Lepljoptera of New York and Neighboring States 101 



Family 6. MEGALOPYGID^I 



(LagoicUe ; Liparidse, in part) 



(The flannel moths) 



Closely similar to the Encleidae. Male, and sometimes female, 

 antennas pectinate to the tip ; fore wing (fig. 72) with vestiture often 

 crinkly, of more or less hairlike scales. Hind wing in our species with 

 Sc and R fused most of the length of the cell, but free at base, unlike 

 the North American Pyromorphida?, in which also R 4 and R 5 of the 

 fore wing are stalked. Mouth parts much reduced, and buried in 

 dense hair. 



Egg ellipsoidal. Larva with stinging hair mixed with dense, soft 

 hair, arranged in diffuse tufts, vent rally with a few subprimaries only. 

 Prolegs, without hooks present on abdominal segments 2 and 7, beside 

 the normal ones on segments 3 and . 6 and the last segment, which 

 each have a uniordinal row of hooks, sharply angulated in the middle, 

 or interrupted by a more or less distinct sucker. Pupa with all abdomi- 

 nal segments free (except the usual terminal ones). Appendages free. 

 Maxilla? rudimentary, divergent, quadrangular as in the Hepialidaa, 

 leaving the labial palpi wholly uncovered. Abdominal segments 2 to 6, 

 inclusive, with conical tubercles behind the spiracles. Abdomen with 

 fine, spinulated bands on anterior part of segments and a -tuft of 

 bristles on each side of dorsum behind them. Eyes and first spiracles 

 as in the Eucleidse. 



This small family is almost wholly American. 



Key to the genera 



Hind wing with M = and CUj stalked ; white Norape. 



Hind wing with 1YL and CUj separate; cream or yellow Megalopyge. 



1. MEGALOPYGE Hiibner 

 (Lagoa Harris) 



Fore wings with discolored, crinkly hair toward costa. Frenulum rudimentary. 

 Caterpillar with hair from tufts rather long and spreading so as nearly to con- 

 ceal the body. 



Key to the species 



1. Wholly orange ochre pyxidifera. 



1. Crinkly hair in part contrasting, brown and black. 



2. Thorax ochre yellow to brown opercularis. 



2. Thorax cream color crispata. 



I. Male antennae half as long as fore vying, of female about a third as long 

 as fore wing; cocoon with two transverse flanges on upper side. 

 ( Megalopyge ) . 

 1. M. opercularis Smith and Abbot. Thorax and basal tuft of abdomen ochre; 



