Black-waved Flannel Moth vs Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black-waved Flannel Moth | Arctic Woolly Bear Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megalopyge crispata | Gynaephora groenlandica |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Megalopygidae | Erebidae |
| Size | 25-35 mm wingspan | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Orchards | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black-waved Flannel Moth
A fluffy white to yellowish moth with wavy dark lines across the forewings. Like its relative the puss moth, its caterpillar is densely hairy and delivers a painful sting.
Did You Know?
The adult moth's long curly wing scales make it look remarkably like a tiny Persian cat.
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.