Hag Moth - (Phobetron pithecium)

The distinctive Hag Moth has an even more unusual caterpillar that rendered the need for its own name: Monkey Slug.

Staff Writer (8/27/2014): The Hag Moth is a member of the Slug Caterpillar Moth family. Many of the larvae (caterpillars) of these moths are visual oddities. Tentacle-like arms extend and reach as the caterpillar crawls, giving the appearance of a terrestrial octopus. These lobes are delicate and a few may be missing. Though other hairy caterpillars have a reputation for prickly defenses, this caterpillar does not sting. The caterpillars of this family attract more interest than the adult moths.

Hag Moths are extremely furry. Tufts of hair extend from every leg. Both genders are a dark mottled brown though males have translucent wings. Females are larger than males and have light ivory hair on their legs while males do not . Adults are rarely seen but can be found in forests, woods and fields from late spring through summer.

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Details of the:
Hag Moth

Category: Butterfly or Moth
Common name: Hag Moth
Scientific Name: Phobetron pithecium
Other Names: Monkey Slug Caterpillar

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Limacodidae

Genus: Phobetron

Species: pithecium

Size (Adult, Length): 20mm to 28mm (0.79in to 1.10in)

Identifying Colors: brown, black, white, tan

Additional Descriptors: hairy, furry, fuzzy, weird, legs, flying, tentacles, arms, octopus

North American Reach (Though Not Limited To*): Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; Quebec

* Keep in mind that an insect's reach is not limited by lines on a map and therefore may appear in areas/regions/states beyond those listed above.

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