Mystery Caterpillar in Greenwood, S.C.
Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Hi,
I work at the Greenwood Humane Society here in Greenwood, S.C. While our director was photographing dogs for adoption she spotted this awesome little guy. She called us out ot see if we could id it. I think it looks kind of like a tobacco hornworm ,but upon closer inspection that doesn’t seem right. She guesses it’s size at about 3″ long and 1/4″ in diameter. It is November 6th, but the weather has been very warm for fall here. Today it was around 65-70 degrees. I love your website! Thank you for your time, and all that you do!
M.Bohland
Greenwood, S.C.
Luna Moth Caterpillar
Hi M,
Your Luna Moth Caterpillar has probably come out of the trees to find a place to spin its cocoon. Luna Moths spin their cocoon inside of a dried leaf on the ground and pass the winter in the leaf litter under the snow if it is in an area that freezes.
Moth???
Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 5:52 AM
Dear Bugmen,
I was in the yard the other day and noticed this large green moth hanging from the bottom of my house. I have never seen anything like this before and was wondering if you could help me identify it? I believe it is some type of moth. I think the pattern is really beautiful. Thank you:)
S. Peters
Port orange, Florida
Luna Moth
Dear S.,
This beauty is a Luna Moth. We have received so many photos over the years that we have devoted an entire section to this species. The Luna Moth is one of the Giant Silk Moths. This group does not eat as adults, living only to mate.
Mating Griffin’s Sheepmoths
Bugman, your WTB & Bug Love sites are truly unique and fascinating. Thanks for creating and maintaining these to help us ID what we find in the field. We found a mating pair of Hemileuca griffini while hiking on Pollywog Bench above Lake Powell, UT on the east side of the Escalante River confluence. The photos submitted show the moths embraced around a small dry grass shoot held by someone (finger at bottom). We found the fine amber head hairs and fillary antanni quite beautiful. They remained clutched in spite of our interference. Date taken - 09/23/2008.
•How you want your letter signed
n8urnut
Southern Utah
Griffin
Dear n8urnut,
Thanks so much for sending us your photo of mating Griffin’s Sheepmoths. We will link to the Butterflies and Moths of North America to provide additional information on the species.
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Posted 30 September 2008
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Tagged: bug love
Buck Moth - Hemileuca graffini
I live close to Page AZ (northern AZ) and the last few days these beautiful moths have been hatching. They are flying all over Page and the surrounding area. Thanks to your great website, I think I have identified it as a Hemileuca graffini. Keep up the great work!
Carol
Page, AZ (northern AZ)
Buck Moth
Hi Carol,
Thanks for sending us your lovely Buck Moth image. We are happy our site enabled you to identify your specimen as Hemileuca griffini. We may have a typo on our original posting of this species. We believe this might also be the Hera Buck Moth, Hemileuca hera, based on images on the Butterflies and Moths of North America website
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Posted 26 September 2008
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Moth Mates
Hello,
I saw a bunch of these bright moths swarming the garage at work. This picture was taken in July. These guys were hanging from a roof. I imagine the little one is the male? Thanks,
Katie
Benton Harbor, MI
Hi Katie,
These are mating Oakworm Moths in the genus Anisota. The World’s Largest Saturniidae Site lists three members of the genus in Michigan and they can be difficult to tell apart. We believe these are either Anisota senatoria, the Orange-Tipped Oakworm Moth or Anisota virginiensis, the Pink-Striped Oakworm Moth. More information on this genus can be located on BugGuide. Yes, the smaller darker moth is the male.
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Posted 30 August 2008
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Tagged: bug love
Moths
I have spent hours searching the Internet and your site and the Holland book you recommended. Two of the attached pictures are of a moth with its wings open and closed; I though perhaps it could be a pine moth. The other picture (sorry it is a little fuzzy) is of a beautiful moth 3-4 inches in size. Any help is appreciated. These are taken near Prescott, Arizona in a pine forest. Love your site.
Jane Shrum
Hi Jane,
The moth with the open and closed wing view looks like a Pandora Moth, Coloradia pandora, which can be found on BugGuide. There are several other very similar looking species in the same genus also found in Arizona, but our money is on the Pandora Moth.
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Posted 28 August 2008
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Moth ID please
Hi Bug man.
My 7 year old son turned me on to your site. I’ve been a bug collector all my life and it seems he’s following in my footsteps. I travel quite a bit and am required to pack a net. "Dad, you’ve got a net, right?" Last month I was on a fishing trip in Guerro Vincente Mexico. The fishing was on the slow side so I started checking some lights in and around the village. I found plenty of Satellite Sphinxes and some that appeared to be Carolina Sphinx. This one however has me stumped. It came to a light late at night at laundro mat. It is 5 3/8" in wing span. Any ideas? Also, I missed a larger moth that had "Atlas" type upper wings and was as flighty as a Black Witch. I’m still bummed. Thanks a million for teaching Josef so much in this field. Keep up the good work. I noticed your site doesn’t have: Elm, Waved, Abbots, Wild Cherry, Ash, Pandora, Laurel, Blind Eye, Cersey’s andTwin Spotted Sphinxes. ‘Want’ em?
Tim Borski
Hi Tim,
We quickly located your beautiful moth, Dysdaemonia boreas, on the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site, an amazing private access website with a membership. Dysdaemonia boreas is found in much of Mexico, Central America and South America. We located another image on a public access website, the Moths of Belize. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on our reply as he may want your location information to add to his comprehensive sighting data. The other large Saturniid you describe may be one of the Rothschildia species. Regarding the missing Sphinx Moths you mentioned, we currently have 7 Sphinx Moth pages, and some of the species you mention are represented on our site. If you find any totally lacking, or underrepresented, please send us photos and data, like time of year, location, and anecdotal information our readership may find amusing.
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Posted 28 August 2008
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Promethea, Luna and Imperial Moths
Hope I have the right IDs on these 3 moths. My name is Barbara Edwards and I live in Macon, Ga. The Imperial Moth was taken 2 days ago and the Promethea and Luna was taken last year.
Hi Barbara,
While the Luna and Imperial Moths are correctly identified, the moth you believe to be a Promethea Moth is actually another moth in the same genus, the Tulip Tree Silk Moth, Callosamia angulifera. Your specimen is a female.
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Posted 19 August 2008
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Mating Lunas
I Live in Northwest Arkansas and these mating Luna moths were on my deck this morning thought you might want to add to your collection.
Tony Powell
Hi Tony,
The progeny of these mating Luna Moths will pass the winter as pupae and emerge in the spring.
Silkmoth
Here are a couple of pictures; I didn’t realize there were so many silkmoths that looked alike and wondered which it was. At first I thought is was Ceanothus, then I saw Cecropia, then Glover’s. I am near Prescott, Arizona. Barnes and Noble did not have a book on strictly Moths or Silkmoths. Is there a book availaable? Thanks,
Jane Shrum
Hi Jane,
This is Glover’s Silk Moth, Hyalophora columbia gloveri, which ranges in the Southwest. We always like Holland’s Moth Book. Your image appears to have been altered in Photoshop. Giant Silk Moths do not feed as adults, and are not inclined to visit blossoms. Additionally, there seems to be a bit of unusual layering on the left upper wing where the blossoms appear through the wing.
Thank you for identifying the photos I sent you on 8/11/08 as Glover’s and for the information about Holland’s Moth Book. I am attaching several other photos that should show that it was not altered in Photoshop. The wings appear to be damaged on both upper left and upper right wings and that is where the blossoms showed in the photo I sent.
Hi again Jane,
Thanks for dispelling our silly suspicion.
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Posted 11 August 2008
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Big Yellow Moth… I think! Loc: Slovenia
Hi WTB
I found this unfortunate guy while in Slovenia recently. I say unfortunate because he landed in the grass near to me and was flapping around, obviously in distress. When I looked closer it appears he must have been attacked by a bird or something because he was missing a front antenna and a front leg. I thought to leave him there in the hope that a bit of rest in the sun would help, but I then noticed he was about to be swarmed by an army of giant ants! So… I (very gently) scooped him up and put him somewhere safe with some muddy puddle water. Unfortunately though, when I returned later, he had curled up his tootsies and shuffled off this mortal coil etc. etc.. So, I now have this poor creature and I still don’t even know what he is! I am torn between hoping he is rare (for the joy of finding something rare), but then again hoping he is not (because then it would be an even bigger shame that he didn’t make it! Please help give him a name! I have looked through every Butterfly and Moth page on your site but can’t find him anywhere. I have put him on a CD to give you an idea of his size. I’ve only ever seen anything this big in butterfly houses, never in the wild! Thank you very much
Scott Holmes
from North Wales, UK.
Hi Scott,
Thanks for writing your touching story of the unforgiving ways of the natural world. Your moth is Antheraea yamamai, a Japanese species introduced to Europe.
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Posted 11 August 2008
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I’m stumped! What’s this bug?!
Hi Bugman!
Thanks for such a fab site! I took these pictures of a beautiful moth yesterday in my backyard in Decatur, GA. It fluttered away shortly thereafter. I initially thought it might be a Cecropia Moth, but some of its markings are inconsistent with the pictures I’ve looked at: it is lacking the vivid body color, for example, and the white crescent shapes on the wings seem too small. I’ve poured over all your moth pictures and those on some other sites, but am still stumped! Can you help? Many, many thanks…keep doing what you do!
Tracy D. James
Decatur, GA
Hi Tracy,
This is a Tuliptree Silkmoth, Callosamia angulifera, and it the second example we have received today. The first was from Virginia.
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Posted 08 August 2008
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Dear Bugman,
Thanks so much for identifying the Pearly Wood Nymph for me. I received your email this morning to my great surprise. Boy you are fast. I thought it might be the Pearly from you page but didn’t know for sure. Thought you might be interested see a Royal Walnut Moth that laid her eggs on the siding of my front porch almost two weeks ago. She had lots of babies but I don’t know about the survival rate. We saw a lot of dead babies and didn’t know if it was because she didn’t lay them on a host plant that they could start eating. Not two days after all the eggs had finished hatching I had a Small Eyed Sphinx. Such velvet wings. My bug friend identified it from my pictures. Thanks again,
Peggy Scott
Hi Peggy,
Because of time constraints, we are unable to post all of the marvelous submissions that come our way. Many letters we don’t even have time to read. We are thrilled to posty your photos of a Royal Walnut Moth laying eggs and the resulting hatching of Hickory Horned Devils.
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Posted 04 August 2008
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Saturnid Rothscgilidia
Hi Bugman
I recently followed the life cycle of a moth in the wild in Queretaro, Mexico.120 miles north of Mexico City. Two cacoons hatched 4 weeks ago and I captured them mating. I am attaching photos. I was intrigued by the comments on the Saturnid Rothschilidia reported from Brazil then challenged. Judging from my photos I seem to have an almost identical example from semitropical central Mexico. What do you think?
Clint
Hi Clint,
We have just logged onto the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site for the first time in an attempt to properly identify your mating Rothschildia species, and we must say an accurate identification is beyond our means. Hazarding a guess, we will take a stab at Rothschildia lebeau aroma. Perhaps Bill Oehlke will come to our rescue.
Daniel,
It is Rothschildia cincta guerreronis, sometimes elevated to Rothschildia guerreronis. Note strong presence of white scaling on forewing, just inside the marginal area, also some white scaling on hindwing in corresponding area. Many of the Rothschildia are very hard to id. … Thanks for sending images. Very nice.
Bill Oehlke
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Posted 04 August 2008
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Tagged: bug love
Can you identify this bug??
Hello! I found this bug on my screen door — it stayed there for three days and then it was gone — do you by chance know what it is? I live in Virginia if that is of any help. Thank you,
Terri
Hi Terri,
This etherial beauty is a Luna Moth. We started to get photos from the South this year in early March, and by late May we were getting sightings from Maine and Canada. Your photos represent a second generation in the South. Where warm weather prevails for longer periods, the Luna Moth has a second generation that will overwinter as a pupa inside a cocoon wrapped in a leaf that falls to the ground and remains under the snow buried in the fallen leaves.
2 pictures for you
Found your email addy on the very good site you have on the web. The moth (pictures attached) was on our porch this morning at Payson, Arizona. It was resting on a (lit) lamp shade and has a wing span of 6 inches! I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of a moth it is and wondered if you can use the pic for your site or whatever else. Thanks
Reg
Hi Reg,
A few days ago, we received our first photo of this moth, Antheraea oculea, a relative of the Prometheus Moth found in Arizona. That specimen was sent from the Coconino National Forest of Northern Arizona. 50 miles north of Payson. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this reply as he is keeping comprehensive data on species distribution.
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Posted 25 July 2008
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help identifying this moth please
I’d love some help on this one! I live in NH and found this beauty on my house one morning around 9 am. Best regards,
Colleen L. Jones
Hi Colleen,
We believe with 95% certainty that this is a female Promethea Moth, Callosamia promethia, but the closely related Tulip Tree Silk Moth, Callosamia angulifera, is very similar. We found a Canadian Biodiversity website that has a side by side comparison of the two species. Males of the species are much smaller and darker.
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Posted 21 July 2008
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Beautiful S. Arizona moth
Hi there. I have seen the most bizarre insects since moving to Southern Arizona (almost on the Mexico border)! Thanks to your site, I’ve been able to identify most of them, except for this beautiful moth that we found on the wall near our front door this morning. Can you tell me what it is?
Many thanks!
Tamara Holcomb Page
Bisbee, AZ
Beautiful S. Arizona moth (found it!)
Please disregard my just-sent email. After a little more searching, I did find it on your site. Bill Oehlke identified it as “Saturniidae, Eupackardia calleta” On the posting I found, he had asked what county it was from. We are in Cochise County, in the Bisbee, AZ historic district. The moth was photographed on7/21/08. Enjoy the photo in my previous email (I didn’t want to burden you with another attachment)! Again, Many thanks!
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
Far from disregarding your previous email, we have chosen instead to post it with your lovely image of Eupackardia calleta. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this response so he can add your location data to the information he is compiling on this species with its limited range.
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Posted 21 July 2008
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Moth
I see you have this moth on your site. But this ones markings are a little different. We live in the Blue Ridge area of the Coconino National Forest of Northern Arizona. 50 miles north of Payson, Arizona. 6800 feet altitude.
Lynda Perkins
Hi Linda,
This is exciting news for us. According to a site we found, Antheraea oculea was declared a separate species in the 1990s. Here is what the site maintained by Hunter and Joel has to say: “Until the early nineties, oculea was considered a subspecies of polyphemus. Based on the hybridization work of Tuttle, Tuskes and Collins (see “The Wild Silk Moths of North America”) oculea was raised from subspecific to specific status. This moth occurs in Arizona and western New Mexico. At first glance, oculea looks just like a polyphemus, except darker, and with more ‘makeup’ around the eyespots.” The Butterflies and Moths of North America has a map of species distribution. BugGuide has a single photo of a mounted specimen. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on this as he is compiling extensive species distribution information and this sighting may be of interest to him.
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Posted 19 July 2008
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what are these bugs?
Hi!
My name is Sarah. Attached are pictures of some moths that I found mating on my husband’s car. I’m in Jacksonville, Florida the beaches area. Any idea as to what they may be? Thanks!
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
When we first sent you the rather truncated response with just the Polyphemus Moth identification, we had every intention of formatting your lovely photos and posting them. We especially like that your photos demonstrate a change in position and open and closed wing views. Thanks for your lovely addition to our archives.
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Posted 12 July 2008
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Tagged: bug love
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