Family Saturniidae
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Butteryfly/Moth looking insect
August 2, 2009
I was camping over the weekend and came across this big moth/butteryfly type insect. It just stayed in that spot for hours then it left for sometime and then the next day it was back on a different spot on the cabin.
thanks
Labarr15
Old Forge, NY
Luna Moth
Dear Labarr15,
Now that you know that this is a Luna Moth, you should be able to find enough information online to fill a book, one of those things that we really need to continue writing.
Giant Orange Moth
July 29, 2009
I was sent this photo from a friend in Chico, California. My friend said the moth was about a foot from wing tip to wing tip. I have only found one other photo online, but it has no name to it. I am curious as to what kind of moth this is.
Ann G
Chico, California
Polyphemus Moth
Hi Ann,
This is a Polyphemus Moth. Charles Hogue indicates in his book Insects of the Los Angeles Basin that the species is native to the Los Angeles area. BugGuide also has reports from California, but most of our reports come from Eastern North America. Thanks for sending us this California documentation. We are also going to copy Bill Oehlke on this as he is compiling comprehensive data on species distribution.
Luna moth
July 29, 2009
I found this Luna Moth May 8, 2009 approximately 730 am in Peoria, IL. I thought its colors were brilliant so I am passing it along.
j rox
Peoria, IL
Hi j,
We haven’t posted a photo of a Luna Moth recently, and your photo is so lovely, we couldn’t resist posting it.
Big body little winged moth.
July 27, 2009
We found this bug on our front porch last night and we can not figure out what it is.
The Tuttle Family
Raleigh, NC
Imperial Moth newly metamorphosed
Dear Tuttle Family,
It appears that tobacco has stunted the growth of this Imperial Moth. Seriously, this Imperial Moth has just emerged from its underground pupa. The wings have not yet expanded. That will take several hours and then your male, evidenced by more purple markings on wings, will be ready to take flight and search for a mate.
Tan Cecropia Moth?
July 27, 2009
I work at a quarry in south central kentucky. Generally finding large silkmoths is relatively easy each year approaching fall. One day there was a large polyphemus male, and the next another smaller moth i initially mistook for a polyphemus. When the wings spread.. well, the rest is history!
I have no idea what kind of moth this is. Its pattern is very similar to a cecropia. This is a small male, its wingspan only about 4 inches or so. Much smaller than previous polyphemus that i’ve found. We have found one large expired ‘black type’ cecropia here. But i’ve never seen one like this. A cousin perhaps?
Thanks for the help!
A Lover of giant silk moths
warren county Kentucky
Tulip Tree Silkmoth
Dear Lover,
WE believe this is a Tulip Tree Silkmoth, Callosamia angulifera, and we believe it is a female and not a male based on the coloration and antennae. You can compare your moth to images posted to BugGuide.
Great Site I found my answer
July 24, 2009
I found this on the help button at the gas station on my way home from work yesterday. I’ve been searching for a couple hours to find what kind of moth this is. I was very intrigued with this, as I am will all critters.
After finally finding your site, I found this is a Regal Moth. It was very interesting to read about my find.
Sheila Mc
Griffin, GA
Regal Moth affects ADA Compliance
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for your kind letter. Your identification of a Regal Moth or Royal Walnut Moth is correct. We hope the ADA Compliance Folk at the gas station don’t catch wind of this situation. We would hate to hear that measures will be taken against moths because this individual is blocking the handicap call button.
MOTH
July 20, 2009
THIS MOTH WAS FOUND IN OKANOGAN, WASHINGTON NOT SURE WHAT SPECIES IT IS BUT IT IS COLORFUL.
ERNIE BUCHANAN
OKANOGAN, WASHINGTON
Elegant Sheep Moth
Hi Ernie,
Your moth is the highly variable Elegant Sheep Moth, Hemileuca eglanterina, which is pictured on BugGuide. BugGuide has the following information: “Variable. Forewing usually rose-pink and orange, usually with black bands, though sometimes absent. Hindwing is orange with a similar pattern, though variable: sometimes absent, sometimes covering most of hindwing. (2) Day-flying, reputed to fly fast and close to the ground. Range Widely distributed in western North America: Rocky Mountains west to Pacific, from Southern California to southern Canada. In California found west of the crest of the Sierras, absent from San Joaquin Valley except for Sacramento Delta, found in southern California only in the mountains.” The moth is referred to as a Sheep Moth because of its frequent presence in sheep pastures.
Oculea Moth brings friends
July 21, 2009
I recently submitted a photograph of an ‘unknown’ moth. Your response was immediate! I was thrilled with your response, and quickly went through my recent pictures of ALL the unknown bugs I have been phographing in hopes of someday learning what they all were. The Oculea Moth I spotted has not been seen since the he left, however I have seen two different ones in two days. The reason I am certain they are different ones is due to the fact one was much smaller and pretty ragged looking. I did not take a picture because it was pretty sad. The other one I observed is slightly smaller than the first picture I sent. The picture quality is a little better with some more detail, especially of the antennae, they looked like little leafs.
Montezuma Mom
Lake Montezuma, Arizona
Oculea Moth
Dear Montezuma Mom,
Thanks so much for this followup report. We imagine you are the envy of many collectors right now, and we hope your rustic location isn’t suddenly besieged by trophy seekers. This gorgeous moth has such a limited range and we are concerned that collecting it might seriously negatively impact its numbers. This individual is a female, and hopefully she will lay eggs.
Large moth
July 19, 2009
I live in the Verde Valley north of Phoenix Arizona. Last night this moth came flying in the patio, hit the ceiling fan, and hit the floor hard. I helped him up off the floor onto the side of the cushion. He stayed there most of the night and in the morning he had made his way up the wall. By late afternoon he suddenly just fluttered out an into the willow tree. He was about 7 to 8 inches across and about 4 and a half inches long. What is it? and are they common in this area
Thank You!
Montezuma Mom
Lake Montezuma, Arizona
Oculea Moth
Dear Montezuma Mom,
Exactly one year ago on 19 July 2008, when we received our first photo of the Oculea Moth, Antheraea oculea, we thought we were looking at a Polyphemus Moth with exaggerated markings. The eyespots looked heavily made up, as though they had added eye shadow. The World’s Largest Saturniidae Site indicates: “The Antheraea oculea moth (wing span 3 15/16 – 5 7/8 inches) closely resemble the widely distributed polyphemus, but oculea occur only in the Southwestern corner of New Mexico through the mountains of southern Arizona north to Flagstaff and the South Rim of the grand canyon. This subspecies/species has also been reported in Durango, Mexico. There is good reason to believe the moth also flies in western Texas (Ft. Davis) as Mike Quinn sent a left forewing found in that area.” Later on on the site: “The adults are found in oak woodlands and mixed forests. Oculea is best distinguished from polyphemus by the orange ring around each eyespot and extensive blue and black scaling on all wings. Polyphemus has a yellow ring around each eyespot and black scaling is much less pronounced. The submarginal black line of polyphemus is always trimmed by a distal pink line, while oculea have a significantly wider wider black submarginal line without the pink trim.” There is a nice Oculea Moth page documenting the life cycle on zianet.com where it is stated: “Until the early nineties, oculea was considered a subspecies of polyphemus.” The Butterflies and Moths of North America has a map with the range. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on this response so he can add your sighting to the comprehensive species distribution data he is compiling.
Another Oculea Moth Sighting
August 6, 2009
You made IDing my visitor very easy! Thanks. I just wish my oculea hadn’t been around so long & had been neater. You might find my post of interest:
http://walkingprescott.blogspot.com
GrannyJ
Dear GrannyJ,
We have added your comment and linked to your site with a much battered but still lovely Oculea Moth.
Large Yellow Moth
July 18, 2009
I need help with identification of another moth. This one is a large yellow moth and was found in Uvita, Costa Rica also.
Thanks!
Whitney
Uvita, Costa Rica
Saturniid from Costa Rica: Eacles imperialis decoris
Hi again Whitney,
We believe this is a female Eacles species, possibly Eacles masoni, based on some images on the World’s Greatest Saturniidae Site. There is a U.S. species known as the Imperial Moth and there are several subspecies of the Imperial Moth, Eacles imperialis found in Costa Rica as well. Again, we will be copying Bill Oehlke on this response so that he may catalog the sighting, and perhaps he will be able to clarify exactly what species this is. Your close winged view is not one found on the WGSS website.
Correction from Bill Oehlke
Daniel,
It is Eacles imperialis decoris female, based on thin slightly scalloped pm line.
Thanks.
Bill Oehlke
Large Brown Moth
July 17, 2009
What is this? It’s a large brown moth spotted in Uvita, Costa Rica?
Whitney
Uvita, Costa Rica
Dysdaemonia boreas
Hi Whitney,
Your moth is one of the Giant Silk Moths in the family Saturniidae. We quickly identified your moth as Dysdaemonia boreas on the Worlds Largest Saturniidae Site. Back in August 2008, we received another submission of this lovely moth from Mexico. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on our reply as he is compiling complex species distribution data on many large moths.
What kind of moth?
July 15, 2009
Hi again Bugman. I captured this moth with my camera this evening (7/15/2009). I believe it is of the giant silkworm variety but I cannot pin down the exact species. Could you tell me its correct name?
Thanks!
Chris Walker, Stroudsburg, PA
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Spicebush Silkmoth
Dear Chris,
Your moth is in the genus Callosamia. We are undecided as to whether it is the Spicebush Silkmoth, Callosamia promethea, or the Tulip-Tree Silkmoth, Callosamia angulifera. Both are well represented on BugGuide. This specimen is a female. If we were betting the 50/50 odds, we would be inclined to say this is the Tulip-Tree Silkmoth based on one particular posting to BugGuide. An open winged view would be most helpful. Perhaps one of our readers with more skills can properly identify this moth to the species level.
Correction
August 10, 2009
Hi,
I’m a lepidopterist and I was flipping through your pages and found on July 17th, the image of a moth. You couldn’t decide between Callosamia Promethia or Angulifera. I would say it is a Promethia because the white marking is not quite as angular as it usually is with Anguliferas. Also, if you need any help with Butterfly or Moth IDs, I’d be happy to assist and give information.
Teddy Kesting-Handly
butterfly_identification@hotmail.com
http://www.freewebs.com/butterfly_identification/
