Family Saturniidae
rss
butterfly or moth?
Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Found these two interesting specimens on our porch June12 2009. Don”t know anything about them just curious.
Ken Gagnon
Vancouver B.C. Canada
Polyphemus Moth
Hi Ken,
This is a Polyphemus Moth, one of the Giant Silk Moths.
Pink, Cream and Yellow Colored Moth in Connecticut
Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 2:39 AM
Hello,
This beautiful moth was resting on the entrance to my SE Connecticut home in May, 2009. I’m curious what it is and also what kind of other information about it you could give me. It was about the size of a US quarter; possibly a bit larger.
Donna in Marlborough, CT
Marlborough, CT., USA
Rosy Maple Moth
Hi Donna,
This little beauty is a Rosy Maple Moth, Dryocampa rubicunda. One of our readers once described it as a sherbet moth. It is related to the Giant Silk Worm moths that do not feed as adults. The Rosy Maple Moth is found in much of eastern North America including Florida. You can find out more by looking on BugGuide and also by searching our archives for previous postings.
What kind of moth or butterfly is this?
Fri, May 29, 2009 at 5:29 AM
My mom found this insect on our back porch this rainy afternoon, and we have never seen anything like it! Can you tell us what it might be? It has brown and red and white wings and a white and red body, and also VERY BIG! Thanks!
Tori
North Augusta, Ontario
Cecropia Moth
Hi Tori,
Congratulations on your sighting of a Cecropia Moth, one of the largest North American moths.
Luna Moth
Mon, May 25, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Hello, This morning 5.25.09 I was making my bed and opened my blinds that shows out to our front deck when I did I saw a bug that looked like a leaf.. so i took a picture and did some research and turns out it was the Canadian Luna Moth… I live in Maryland, does anyone know if it is common to see them here?? And this white moth was close by to it, is it a baby?? or a different moth.
Ashley A
Maryland
Luna Moth
Dear Ashley,
Luna Moths range over much of eastern North America, from Florida to Canada, and as far west as Texas and Oklahoma. They are quite common in some parts of their range, and quite scarce in others. Maryland is part of the range, but as to whether they are common in your area is a matter that must be verified by local statistics. Luna Moths reach their adult size after emerging from the cocoon and expanding their wings. They do not grow as adults. The growth is accomplished during the caterpillar stage. The white moth is not a baby Luna Moth.
Luna Moth?
Fri, May 22, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Hello! We are living in Northwest Florida now. Originally from Southern California. Lived In Hawaii for a total of 12 years. We thought we had seen a lot of amazing creatures, but this one was so beautiful! Wasn’t sure if it was a Luna Moth, but we looked at your website, and hoped we had narrowed it down. It didn’t seem to be as big as some people stated, but maybe it was young! I love your site, and refer to it for all the new things we encounter here! I found it on the back door mat.
Sheryl R.
Pensacola, Florida
Luna Moth
Dear Sheryl,
Your moth is indeed a Luna Moth. There is little likelihood that the Luna Moth would be confused with any other North American species. Since Luna Moths have an adult life of only a few days, and since the size of a Luna Moth is determined by the growth of the caterpillar and not the adult form, this moth has reached its maximum size. Not all Luna Moths are the same size and your specimen is just a smaller individual.
Unknown Moth In Michigan
Fri, May 22, 2009 at 8:38 PM
This moth “as you can see” is about the size of a 18 year old male’s hands.
He or she had red, what looked like furr on his back with a white pach “streak” going crossways on its back.
The Abdomen was also striped red black and white.
Season mid spring and time of night around 1130. The legs also being reddish color, would not know if this would help any.
Much obliged if this spicies of moth was known to anyone.
John Hayes
Michigan USA
Cecropia Moth
Dear John,
The Cecropia Moth, according to much of the information we have read, is considered the largest Saturniid Moth in the United States, though the Polyphemus Moth, a relative, might be equally as large. A primarily tropical species, the Black Witch, might be a solid contender for the species with the greatest wingspan, but the Cecropia Moth represented in your photo probably has the greatest wing surface area.
Clarification: The Black Witch is in the family Erebidae.
Large Spotted Moth
Fri, May 15, 2009 at 10:24 PM
This month (May), we found this large moth on our backyard fence in the piney woods of East Texas. The wings were tan, with orange stripes and yellow spots. The body was large and orange. The entire moth was as large as the palm of my hand. My neighbor tells me she’s seen these around before, but I had never seen one.
Cheryl
East Texas (Lufkin)
Royal Walnut Moth
Hi Cheryl,
This is a lovely Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth. The caterpillar is the equally impressive, but frightening, though harmless, Hickory Horned Devil.
5″ wingspan moth
Mon, May 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Hi,
I chased this lovely beast out of my livingroom tonight with much screaming from my wife!
I’ve no idea what type of moth this could be, maybe you can help?
It was hiding behind the sofa and I had to use a biscuit tin to catch and release it.
Mick Holstead
Capljina, Bosnia Herzegovina
Giant Peacock Moth
Hi Mick,
This is a Giant Peacock Moth, Saturnia pyri, the largest moth in Europe. This moth was the subject of a Vincent Van Gogh painting, but the artist misidentified the moth as a Death’s Head Moth.
What type of moth is this?
Fri, May 1, 2009 at 5:23 PM
We found this moth on the wall on our porch. It is approximately 6 inches wide. I thought it was in the Polyphemus family.
Jesika
North Carolina
Polyphemus Moth
Hi Jesika,
This is most certainly a Polyphemus Moth.
Please confirm ID of moth photo attached
Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 11:12 AM
This beautiful moth was found at 7:30 a.m. 4/15/09 in south central Florida in a transition area between pine flatwoods and hardwood hammock. From one other photo on your site, I believe it to be a Sweetbay silk moth (Callosamia securifera). Our moth is lighter in color though and markings seem a bit different. Can you please verify if this is indeed this species or if not, what species you think it might be? This is the first time I’ve seen this particular moth here.
Ranger Dorothy
Sebring, Florida (Highlands County)
Sweetbay Silk Moth
Hi Ranger Dorothy,
We agree that this is a Sweetbay Silk Moth, Callosamia securifera. According to BugGuide: “Spring femles in the extreme south are often yellowish-orange.
Sweetbay Silk Moth
Males are darker than females and often missing hind wing cell spots.” Your female specimen is one of the most delicately beautiful moths we have received in a very long time. Thanks so much for sending in the images.
Sweetbay Silk Moth
Beautiful leaf looking bug
Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Dear bugman,
I have just moved to North Georgia from Omaha, Nebraska, and I am very excited to explore and find new insects that I have never seen before. My first new discovery is of this beautiful leaf looking bud. I am thinking it is some sort of moth but not sure? Any help in identifying this amazing insect would be much appreciated. Thank you for this awesome site that you provide!
Diana
North Georgia
Luna Moth
Hi Diana,
Congratulations on your Luna Moth sighting. This male is a lovely specimen. As warmer spring weather begins to move to the northern latitudes, we will be expecting our Luna Moth reports to be coming from further north as well. The Luna Moth’s range is the eastern U.S. and Canada. By mid May, we should be getting reports from Maine.
Mating Cecropia Moths
Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Thought this photo would be great for your Bug Love section. Beginning of April last year (2008), I saw these 2 Cecropia Moths on a bush at the school I teach at in Buckholts, Texas (central Texas area). I was amazed first by the size of these moths (as I had never seen any moths of this size), and then that I was seeing 2 of them together (figuratively and literally)! The Cecropia Moth has to be the most beautiful insect I’ve ever seen!
Scott Snyder
Central Texas
Cecropia Moths Mating
Dear Scott,
Though your photo was taken last year, it is just about the right time of year for our southern readers to begin sighting the beautiful Cecropia Moth.
