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Kwik-Key to Common Families of Lepidoptera

Answer for your specimen:

If you have reached this part of the key, your specimen should be a small to medium-size moth with a stout body and a dense covering of hairs and scales.  Front wings are triangular and held tent-like over the body.   Each hind wing should have three anal veins (unbranched).

The two likely families are:

Limacodidae

Slug moths

Front wings are usually dark brown with an irregular spot of contrasting color.   Males have bipectinate antennae.   Larvae are fleshy and slug-like with stinging hairs.   They move by gliding on sucker-like prolegs.

Megalopigidae

Flannel moths

Front wings are usually white, yellow, or mottled brown with few distinctive markings.   Males have bipectinate antennae.   Larvae are densely hairy and may have stinging spines hidden among the hairs.