Megalopyge crispata
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Megalopyge crispata, the black-waved flannel moth, crinkled flannel moth or white flannel moth, is a moth of the Megalopygidae family. It is found along the east coast of the United States, and as far inland as Oklahoma.
The wingspan of this moth is 25–40 mm. Adults are on the wing from May to October. There is one generation per year in the north, two or more in the south. The caterpillars feed on various trees and shrubs. The caterpillars produce a venom delivered through hollow urticating hairs that can penetrate the skin. This venom can cause pain, a burning sensation, lymphadenopathy, headache and inflammatory dermatitis. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Waved Flannel Moth sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 28 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 184th most-seen of the 822 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Waved Flannel Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in August and October–May, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-Waved Flannel Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Black-Waved Flannel Moth sightings, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Shenandoah National Park (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-Waved Flannel Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (28 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
