Subject: Huge butterfly
Location: Ruston, LA
May 20, 2013 7:35 am
What kind of butterfly is this? It was photographed in Ruston, LA (near Monroe), on 5/20/2013, around 9 a.m.
Signature: John
Cecropia Moth
Hi John,
This is a Cecropia Moth, not a butterfly.
Subject: Please ID This Insect
Location: Arlington, VA 22204
May 17, 2013 11:05 am
We found a Luna Moth is Arlington, VA 20850 on May 17, 2013.
This insect, thought to be just a leaf at first, was seen on May 17, 2013 in Arlington, VA adjacent to Washington, DC. It was lying on a parking lot floor which is open to the surrounding area. This is an urban area of businesse and residences. Reasonable density of trees, bushes.
It was alive when the attached picture was taken. The wingspan is about 4-5 inches.
Light green in color, obvious antenae upon close inspection. Large spots positioned symetrically on the wings look like eyes. Probably great example of use of both camouflage and threatening appearance at the same time.
Signature: Harold Cypress
Luna Moth
Hi Harold,
Thanks for sending us your photo of this lovely Luna Moth. It is nice to know they are found in urban Arlington.
Luna Moth in West Virginia
Luna Moth
Luna Moth and Great Poplar Sphinx
First Reported Luna Moth Sighting of 2013
Subject: Moth or butterfly?
Location: Rhome, Texas
April 26, 2013 2:10 pm
We found this little thing in the garage resting this morning and just curious what it is because we haven’t ever seen these out here… Thanks
Signature: C. Draper
Luna Moth
Dear C. Draper,
It is unlikely that any other North American insect will be confused with a Luna Moth. This is a lovely male Luna Moth, distinguished from the female by his more feathery antennae. Luna Moths do not feed as adults, living only long enough to mate and lay eggs. Luna Moths are found in the eastern portion of North America and you are probably near the western most extent of the range.
Subject: Biggest flying bug I’ve seen
Location: West Virginia
April 17, 2013 11:31 pm
I was standing outside enjoying the night when this big guy started flying around me. It has green wings and very large
Signature: CS
Luna Moth
Dear CS,
No other North American insect can be confused with a Luna Moth, though the Luna Moth does have similar looking relatives in other parts of the world, like this individual from the same genus in China. The appearance of the Luna Moth should be a better indicator that spring is coming than the Groundhog was this year.
Subject: Gorgeous Specimen
Location: Jacksonville Florida
April 17, 2013 5:06 am
Can you please identify this specimen? I am presume it is a moth based on the ’fuzzy’ antenna.
Signature: Danno
Polyphemus Moth
Dear Danno,
This lovely moth is the widest ranging North American Giant Silkmoth, the Polyphemus Moth. It is wonderful that one of your images has captured this female in the process of ovipositing. Hopefully she had a chance to mate. Giant Silkmoths do not feed as adults, and they only live long enough to mate and produce a new generation. The male Polyphemus Moth has more feathered antennae so that he can locate the female by the pheromones she releases.
Polyphemus Moth Laying Eggs
Subject: Chinese Moth
Location: Suzhou, China
April 14, 2013 8:42 pm
Hi Bugman !
We found this beautiful moth in Suzhou, China at a Skateboard park and would love to have it identified. Size is not easy to see from the photograph but wingspan was approximately 12cm.
Thanks for your help !!
Signature: Duncan
Actias felicis, we believe
Hi Duncan,
We are rushing to post this and we are not certain if we have the correct species. This moth looks very much like the North American Luna Moth and we are guessing they belong to the same genus, Actias. Kirby Wolfe’s website lists two species in the genus in China, and this looks like Actias felicis.
Hello Daniel,
Thanks very much for your fast reply – my children were very excited to find this moth and it’s great to be able to tell them exactly what it is!! All the best and keep up the good work with the site. Best Regards
Actias artemis from Japan
Giant Silkmoth: Rothschildia species
Luna Moth
Giant Silkmoth from South Africa
Subject: winged-caterpillar-spider bug
Location: Alpine, CA
March 21, 2013 1:11 pm
I saw this bug on the ground outside my office on 3/20/13 in Alpine, CA. I have never seen anything like it. It looks like a combination of a spider, butterfly, and caterpillar. It seemed to be trying to walk and/or fly and seemed to be having trouble doing either. Is no longer there, so unsure what happened to it. Was quite large-body was about 1 inch, wings were maybe 2 inches.
Signature: Jennifer
Ceanothus Silkmoth
Hi Jennifer,
This is a Ceanothus Silkmoth, Hyalophora euryalus, and this is not the first time that we have received a letter requesting the identification of a large moth that was compared in appearance to a caterpillar. You can find more information on the Ceanothus Silkmoth on BugGuide.
Ceanothus Silkmoth Caterpillar after all
Ceanothus Silkmoth
better photo of same Ceanothus Silkmoth from the photographer
Ceanothus Silkmoth
Subject: Cecropia Moth?
Location: Edom, Texas (near Tyler)
March 20, 2013 9:14 am
Found this very beautiful but very lethargic moth on my front doormat this morning. Is it a cecropia moth? Furry body and antennae are feathery. It was also very large!
Signature: Trixie in Texas
Male Polyphemus Moth
Hi Trixie,
This Polyphemus Moth is a member of the Giant Silkmoth family like the Cecropia Moth, but it is a distinctly different species. You can tell your Polyphemus Moth is a female because of the shape of her antennae. The are not as plumose or feathered as the antennae of the male Polyphemus Moth.
Ed. Note: Thanks to a comment, we inspected the antennae more closely and we now agree that this is a male Polyphemus Moth.
Detail of a Male Polyphemus’ Antennae
I like This
