Hummingbird Moth
Location: Central Massachusetts
September 7, 2010 2:38 pm
I had seen your answer to a previous writer about these cool creatures and I wanted to forward a few pictures of them to you. All this time we thought they were possibly baby hummingbirds only to find out they are moths.
But, none the less are are amazing creatures and appear to have no fear. they would buzz around my wife as she was trimming the butterfly bushes in our yard. Enjoy.
Signature: Brian Dicks
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
Hi Brian,
We are happy to post your photo of a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. It seems we have answered at least two identification requests for this creature every day for the past few weeks, but either the photos were not that good, or the letter was not engaging, or we had too many other letters we wanted to post, but whatever the reason, we have responded directly without posting the letters to our website. We like that you took the time to identify your Hummingbird Clearwing Moth and that your letter is enthusiastic about nature, and that your image quality is very good, so we are posting your letter and photo of a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe, which you may read about on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website.
Bushy-tailed Moth
Location: Hawaii Island northeastern side
September 6, 2010 7:46 pm
Hello,
I have an odd moth that has ended up alive in my moth collecting jar. It has a bushy or furry type abdomen ending that is always moving like its alive or could be for mating(?). The wings have two see-thru panels in each wing. The fur is yellow brown on the top side. The moth has a 3/4in long body. I apologize in advance for the poor photo quality. Thanks for your help regarding this moth identification, I started to look but there are many.
Good day,
Signature: k
Melonworm Moth
Dear K,
This is a Melonworm Moth, Diaphania hyalinata. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on cucumber family plants: cucumber, melon, squash. Can be pests. Many generations (3?) in south, disperses northward in fall, does not persist there.“ We suspect it is an introduced species in Hawaii.
What’s this beautiful bug?? Found in Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
September 6, 2010 2:04 pm
We found this beautiful bug on a fence in Chicago on September 5, 2010. We searched the site but couldn’t find it. Any idea what it is?
Signature: Brian from Chicago
Ailanthus Webworm Moth
Hi Brian,
It seems every day we get at least one request to identify the Ailanthus Webworm Moth, Atteva punctella, and we probably should have made it the Bug of the Month for September. Your photo is quite detailed and we are going to post it in the feature section of postings that scroll across the top of our webpage in the hopes that new visitors will be able to self identify if that is the subject of their query.
Colorado Moth
Location: Denver, Colorado
September 4, 2010 12:49 pm
I found this moth in Denver, Colorado in July. It seems to resemble the dagger moth and the underwing moth but the secondary wings look just like the ones on top. Moth measures 2 inches. Any help is appreciated.
Signature: Colorado moth lover
Waved Sphinx
Dear Colorado Moth Lover,
We believe this is a Waved Sphinx, Ceratomia undulosa, based on photos and information posted to Bill Oehlke’s excellent website, however there are several other similar looking species found in Colorado. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke with our reply so that he can incorporate your sighting into the comprehensive database he oversees, and perhaps he will be able to confirm our identification.
Hugely helpful!! Thank you so much!!
Julie Groves
Bill Oehlke Confirms Identification
Daniel,
Denver, Colorado Sphingidae is Ceratomia undulosa.
Bill Oehlke
Cool Moth
Location: Eastern Coast Maryland
September 4, 2010 9:35 am
Hello, i was on my lunch break. In annapolis, Maryland when i saw this leaf hanging on the wall. Closer inspection i realized it was an awesome insect but i am unable to find its name
Signature: Jason
Grapevine Looper Moth
Hi Jason,
We are certain your moth is a Geometrid Moth in the genus Eulithis, but we are not certain of the species. We suspect this is the Greater Grapevine Looper, Eulithis gracilineata, which is pictured on BugGuide, though the Lesser Grapevine Looper, Eulithis diversilineata, also pictured on BugGuide, looks quite similar and BugGuide indicates: “A text description is needed that explains how to reliably distinguish photos of this species from the similar Greater Grapevine Looper (Eulithis gracilineata).“
Grapevine Looper Moth
Thankyou so much. That happened so fast. I am almost certain its the grapevine. You guys are so great
The Mercedes Logo Mystery Bug!
Location: Santa Fe, NM
September 2, 2010 11:53 am
Hello Bugman. I found this bug on the window of our fire station and none of us had ever seen anything like it! It was shaped like the Mercedes logo! The body appeared hard like a stick bug, and it looked like it was made to look like just another small dry twig. I didnt see it fly but I’m certain it had wings under the two front hard parts coming off its sides. The pictures I took are not very good because it was taken with a cell phone. The third picture is of a drawing I did of it from the underside view. Please tell me you know what this is! I hope this helps. Thanks again!
Signature: Mr. Mares
Plume Moth
Dear Mr. Mares,
We love your drawing of a Plume Moth. You could have illustrated our book. Often people write requesting an identification of the T-Bug and it is a Plume Moth.
Tiger Moth?
Location: Coastal SC
September 2, 2010 10:40 pm
I’ve looked thru WhatsThatBug.com’s Tiger Moth section, and think that this might be a Tiger Moth? But not sure what type. We live near Myrtle Beach, SC, and found this little guy right on our front porch this afternoon. And right above the front door was a baby mantis. We had a little Wild Kingdom going on. I just love days like that, when they show up right on your front porch, just begging to have their picture taken!
Signature: Lisa
- Heiroglyphic Moth
Hi Lisa,
Your Heiroglphic Moth looks lovely on that buff wood surface. It is a Noctuid.
Daniel,
Thank you so much for identifying our moth! I have some other photos of it I thought I’d share, as well as the mantis I mentioned. Maybe it wasn’t a baby after all, but a small variety?
I have many other photos of interesting creatures we have found over the last few years, including a very large Carolina Wolf Spider we found last year, an Eastern Hercules Beetle, a beautiful Pearl Crescent Butterfly, a Tersa Sphinx Moth, a Plume moth, a Spittlebug, and a Dogbane Leaf Beetle, if you’re interested in seeing any of those.
Thanks again! You made my day! 
Lisa M. Nowakowski
Hi Lisa,
Though we always enjoy seeing the images our readers supply, it is just physically impossible to post all the wonderful images we receive. Probably, of the list you mentioned, the one we would most like to have another fine photograph of is the Carolina Wolf Spider. Please include that name in the subject line of the email you send us and please use our standard form including all required information.
Blue Flying Insect
Location: Las Vegas, NV US
September 2, 2010 7:02 pm
I haven’t found this one in any reference I have and have no clue of what it is. I worked around it to pick up the highlights in the body color. Just looking at it normally it was a dark blue to almost purple.
signature: Steve
Western Grape Leaf Skeletonizer
Hi Steve,
The color on your moth is bordering on ultraviolet. We believe this must be a Western Grape Leaf Skeletonizer, Harrisina metallica, though the color on your specimen is so much more vivid than any of the examples posted to BugGuide.
Daniel,
Thank you for the ID. Yes, the light was perfect in one direction to show the blue. From any other angle it looked more like your specimens. It was very patient and stayed around while I set up a tripod and didn’t fly when I changed angles.
Steve
It surely has earned that species name metallica.
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