Kingdom Animalia Order Lepidoptera Genus Hylesia Higher classification Hylesia | Phylum Arthropoda Family Saturniidae Scientific name Hylesia metabus Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Hylesia, Butterflies and moths, Insect, Royal moths, Hylesia nigricans | ||
The Yellowtail moth or ashen moth (Hylesia metabus) is a species of moth found in northeastern South America, and contact with the urticating hairs of adult female moths is known to cause a cutaneous condition called the Caripito itch.
These moths are mainly found along the mangrove swamps of Venezuela and Guyana. The adult moths however swarm to lights in nearby towns and the urticating hairs are released into the air leading to severe urticarial and papilovesicular dermatitis. Hairs from male moths do not cause any symptoms.
These special hairs are used by the females to protect their eggs masses from predators such as ants.
References
Yellowtail moth Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA