Pretty Moth
March 11, 2010
I’ve seen this moth twice before, where I go to school. It’s about the size of a cupped palm, slightly smaller, and is very pretty to look at. I’ve been trying to find out what they’re called for ages. I let one crawl onto my hand and it was really docile, plus the fluff is very puffy and soft. ^_^ I only managed to get one decent picture. Help to identify it would be very much appreciated!
Nikolaus
Idyllwild, California
Pandora Pine Moth
Hi Nikolaus,
This beauty is a Pandora Pine Moth, Coloradia pandora, a species endemic to the west coast. According to BugGuide: “Two years are required to complete development. Second- or third-stage caterpillars overwinter the first year in tight clusters, resume feeding in the spring, pupate in June or July, and spend the second winter in underground pupation chambers lined with silk and plant litter. Some can remain in the pupal stage for up to 5 years before emerging as adults.“ The caterpillars are eaten by the Paiute Indians.
More Polyphemus Love
March 9, 2010
Last week we found a large cocoon on ground, brought it inside, and hung it in a jar. Last night we saw a large moth struggling in the bottom of the jar. We took it outside to a ficus tree on the patio, where it climbed up a few feet and stopped. As you can see in the first picture, the wings didn’t expand properly. But apparently male moths don’t care so much about pretty wings, because she found a mate in a matter of hours.
Matt in Houston
Houston, TX
Mating Polyphemus Moths
Hi Matt,
Thank you for your wonderful written account and your stunning photograph of mating Polyphemus Moths.
You’re welcome. I appreciate the site where I could find out exactly what it was quickly!
Wow, the life of a moth is short. Out of her cocoon barely a day, it appears she is already dead, or nearly so. But there are several eggs along the limbs, so the cycle continues.
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Posted 09 March 2010
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Tagged: bug love
Some variety of Saturniid Rothschildia?
March 1, 2010
I am currently visiting La Plata, Argentina and I saw this moth on a tree in the city. The photo was taken on February 14, 2010. I wish I’d thought to include something in the photo to use as a size reference, but if I had to guess, I’d say its wingspan was about 4″ across.
I think I looked through every one of your silk moth photos looking for the exact type and I also checked other resources (wikipedia.org, http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/kirbywolfe.htm, and others), but no luck yet.
Based on what I’ve seen, I’m pretty sure it’s some species of Saturniid Rothschildia, but none of the ones I’ve found seem quite right. There’s always one thing or another that’s different (shape of wings, shape/size/placement/orientation of markings, etc.).
I see that there are over 100 species of Rothschildia moths (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothschildia), so this may be quite a challenge.
Here’s a (tinyurl) link to Google maps of within about 200 ft. of the exact location of the moth siting: http://tinyurl.com/yarg65c.
Hopefully someone will recognize it.
Thanks!! }Ж{
Suzanne, visiting from Austin, TX
La Plata, Argentina
Possibly Rothschildia jacobaeae
Hi Suzanne,
There are at least nine species in the genus Rothschildia found in Argentina, and many look quite similar. We believe this is Rothschildia jacobaeae which can be viewed at http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/tdjacobaeae.htm and interestingly, the species used on the Wikipedia page. We will contact an expert, Bill Oehlke to see if he agrees with this identification.
Bill Oehlke confirms Identification
Daniel,
Yes, it is jacobaeae. I have contacted Suzanne, Thanks. She had also contacted me directly.
Bill Oehlke
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Posted 01 March 2010
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Io Moth(?) emerged from cocoon
February 22, 2010
Hi there! I’ve been using your site for a long while now and love the troves of information available here (I use most of my free-time at school reading the posts here) and figured it’s high time I made a contribution. I’m a big bug fan and always keep a sharp eye out for interesting specimens; that said I have a photo and story that I hope might be of some use to your site.
Today at school (22nd of February, 9:00am) I noticed a fuzzy orange critter hanging out on the trunk of an oak tree. Upon closer inspection I believed it to be an Io Moth newly emerged from its cocoon (seeing as the wings had yet to unfurl) [1].
I gently coaxed the creature onto my hand and led it to a tree in a much less high-traffic area for its safety and snapped a photo on my phone (excuse the quality) before releasing it.
I returned to the critter after class (around 10:30am) to find the wings have begun stretching out [2].
I snapped another picture and continued on my way.
After school I checked back on it around 2:40pm to find the wings much more stretched out and the critter still hanging about on the same tree [3].
After the Robotics Club dispersed I took one final check at the tree to find the bright yellow eye-spots glaring at me, I payed my final respects to the fluffy moth and snapped a final pic [4] before it flew away to avoid the incoming rain.
I am unfortunate to live far from any decent wooded areas, so finds like this tend to be scarce and my hunt for the elusive Luna Moth has proved fruitless thus far. Hopefully with the arrival of spring many new insects will cross my path. ^_^
Carl B. – Aspiring Entomologist
Clermont, Florida
Io Moth Metamorphosis
Hi Carl,
Thanks for your kind words, your wonderful story, and your important photos documenting the final stages in the metamorphosis of a female Io Moth.
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Posted 23 February 2010
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Moth idendification
February 8, 2010
Please can you identify this moth for me! One seems to male and the other (Bigger) female
Luka Geertsema
Pretoria, South Africa
Variable Prince female
Hi Luka,
We identified your moths as Holocerina smilax, the Variable Prince, on the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site. According to the website, females are larger, and the Caterpillars are probably a “valuable human food source.” You may see photos of the adult moth and variable caterpillars on the Bizland Silkmoths website. It is not possible for us to determine from the photograph which of your images if of the larger moth, so we are unable to label the sexes. Normally in Giant Silk Moths, the antennae of the male are more developed and feathery, but due to the position the moth assumes when at rest, the antennae are not visible. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on this response as he may have additional information to provide for us.
Variable Prince male
Sexing Information from Bill Oehlke
Daniel,
Thanks. Yes they are Holocerina smilax. The male is the one which has the more produced forewing apex and very triangular hindwings with acute anal angle..
Bill Oehlke
Thanx a million, attached are more pics should they be usefull. PS, the one on the bark was the female with antenae without “feathers”, the other one (male) on the green vetivar grass leaf. Is it suppose to occur in SA?
Greetings,
Luka
Variable Prince female
Yes, it is native to South Africa. Thanks for the additional images.
Variable Prince male
More images as Promised 3
Luka Geertsema
Beautiful Moth
February 4, 2010
I hope that you can respond to my email in time. I don’t know what to do with this moth. I live in Cleveland and it is very cold right now. I found it in the house. I can’t let it outside. It will die I really don’t know what to do with it in the house. I feel so bad for it. I believe it just came out of its cocoon. It must have been in one of the plants that we had outside this summer. What is it? Can I keep it alive until spring, and how? (It’s only February!)
Wendy
Cleveland, Ohio
Polyphemus Moth
Hi Wendy,
Alas, even if the weather was fine, this lovely Polyphemus Moth would only live a few days. They do not feed as adults, and only live long enough to mate. Sadly, it will die without mating.
Thank you for responding so soon. How sad. It is so beautiful.
Wendy
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Posted 05 February 2010
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fat orange bug
February 4, 2010
fat thick body orange bug with eye shaped patterns on its wings. didn’t move around much and was able to expand it’s wings open using a piece of grass
what?
south florida
Io Moth
Dear what?,
This is a female Io Moth. She can be distinguished from the male of the species because the male has yellow upper wings.
Io Moth
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Posted 05 February 2010
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Largest Furry Moth I have ever seen!!
February 2, 2010
Hi bugman, we found this very large moth on our house this morning – Near Wellington, New Zealand.
He was approx 15cm wing span with beautiful colourful brown/green and even pink markings but a little too furry for my likings. Sorry its not the best photo, I did not like to get too close to it 
We have some swan plants in our back garden with Monarch Butterfly eggs and caterpillars, so we are very proud of our bugs!!
Shona (mum), Charlie & Teddy
Paremata, Wellington, New Zealand
Emperor Gum Moth
Hi Shona, Charlie and Teddy,
This gorgeous moth is an Emperor Gum Moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti. As you can see from the images on the Csiro Entomology site for Australia, there are many variations. It is an introduced species in New Zealand.
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Posted 02 February 2010
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what is this bug?
January 19, 2010
this is a florida find. we have no idea what it is other than a moth.
plaes and thank you
florida
Oakworm Moth newly metamorphosed
This is a newly metamorphosed Oakworm Moth in the genus Anisota. The wings have not yet expanded to their full size. Sometimes, this fails to happen and the adult moth will never be capable of flight. BugGuide has a nearly identical photo, and there is also considerable information on the genus posted to BugGuide.
Oakworm Moth
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Posted 20 January 2010
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Glover’s Silk Moth?
January 16, 2010
We are in the hills near Temecula and have willows, buckbrush, ceanothus on the property.
Thanks for any additional information.
Matt Stone
Temecula, CA 92592
Ceanothus Silkmoth
Hi Matt,
Your visitor is a Ceanothus Silkmoth, Hyalophora euryalus, a California native that does not feed as an adult, but has a caterpillar that feeds on Ceanothus, or California lilac. According to BugGuide, the larvae also feed on willow, so your property should be a natural habitat for the Ceanothus Silkmoth.
Ceanothus Silkmoth
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Posted 16 January 2010
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January 15, 2009
Thanks! You identified a Spotted Apatelodes Moth for me. No description or photo would fit it. I kept saying that it looked like bark. I may have seen a butterfly the other day that resembled it, but this morning was cool, and it was tired. I was able to pick it up, and was able to get a close look at it. Still looks like bark, but I noticed the feather antennae, and the curved abdomen. This evening I found your site. So I am very excited. You will look long and hard for an image of it, because… it looks like bark. I put it onto an arbor vitae, so maybe I’ll be able to get a photo tomorrow, if it is still there. Peace!
kathy
Spotted Apatelodes
Hi Kathy,
We are thrilled that you have used our website to identify your Spotted Apatelodes. We are including a photo submitted previously to post with your letter. We haven’t received any recent images of this unusual moth and we hope you are able to locate and photograph the individual you saw.
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Posted 15 January 2010
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Moth like wings spiny red legs
January 14, 2010
Hi,
Found this bug on the outside of our house. It is about the size of the palm of your hand and has wings that look like a moth’s, but spiny crab-like legs. It didn’t move from the same spot for 3 days, and just today was gone. Any ideas? Thanks!
Not a big bug fan
San Diego, CA
Ceanothus Silkmoth
Dear Not a big bug fan,
Interestingly, your friend L sent us this exact photo yesterday, but it was a lower resolution and we were lamenting to ourselves that the resolution was so poor. L will probably be disappointed to find out you already know the answer. We didn’t tell L the scientific name is Hyalophora euryalus, or that the natural range is from Baja to Canada along the westernmost portion of North America. Here is what we wrote back to L a few minutes ago.
This is a Ceanothus Silkmoth. With more Southern California Landscaping being mindful of drought tolerant plants, especially native vegetation, we expect to be getting more reports of sightings of Ceanothus Silkmoths each year. Your letter does not indicate if your friend lives near any natural open space, as this native moth, which does not feed as an adult and only lives for a few days, long enough to mate. The Ceanothus Silkmoth develops from a large caterpillar that feed on the leaves of ceanothus, a plant sometimes marketed as California lilac. BugGuide reports California sightings from March through August, so this January appearance is uncharacteristically early, but it may also be a result of our unseasonal rains this past October.
Thank you! You solved the mystery, you guys sure know your bugs . Very interesting looking moth.
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Posted 14 January 2010
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