Rothschildia
Hi Bugman -
Thanks for the ID of the Leaf-footed Bug and skipper from Panama. I noticed the Rothschildia from Argentina – here’s one from my trip to Panama that I decided, perhaps incorrectly, was a Rothschildia lebeau – is this correct? It was huge, a 7 inch wing span. Thank you,
Allison
Hi Allison,
Sadly, we do not know how to differentiate the different species of Rothschildia from one another. We will have to stop in agreeing that Rothschildia is the correct genus. Maybe one day someone will correctly identify the species as well as provide the correct ranges.
Update: (03/21/2008)
Daniel,
Regarding the two Rothschilida … the one from Panama is R. triloba; the one from Jujuy, Argentina is Rothschildia maurus. I am happy to help with any Saturniidae identifications. Is there any way you can put me in contact with either of these two photographers??
Bill Oehlke
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Posted 09 February 2007
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Luna Moth
How wonderful to find your site!! I was searching for more information about the Luna Moth. I have a picture that I took back in Aug. 2005 that I treasure. It is hard to describe how excited one can get when you see something in your yard that is so incredibly awesome as this beauty. All you can think of is "GET the CAMERA" I did & I got several shots that bright sunny day In my quest to find info later, I learned what I had seen, and that it is a very rare sighting, so I felt especially fortunate indeed. But now that I have found your site; not only do I have more accurate info, [Thank you for that] but I see that you have "LOTS" of pictures during 2005 & 2006 So I guess my question is this- Just how ‘rare’ is rare and are these beautiful creatures perhaps increasing in population? Wouldn’t that be COOL ?!! Going to try again- maybe this time I will get it right when I send you the photo. [sending more angle shots from that day as well] Thank you for your time& patience.
Deborah Glenn
North Carolina
Hi Deborah,
Thank you for resending your photos. We have seen information listing the Luna Moth as endangered, but in a true sense, all life on the planet is endangered. Sightings on some years might be more rare than on other years, and recent years seem to have shown an increase in sightings, though that might be due to the ubiquity of the digital camera and the universal access to the internet. Nonetheless, your sighting is a wonderful event that you may never have a chance to repeat, so you have the photos to reinforce the memory.
Roschildia maurus
Hi there
I just returned from a trip to Argentina, and while I was there I found a moth that is identical to this one that you say ranges only as far south as Mexico (according to bugguide, which I haven’t checked out yet). I’ll forward a photo that was taken in a small town in Jujuy province, near Parque Nacional Calilegua. There were many, many others and I’m actually now considering furthering my zoology degree in this direction! Living in Canada I had no idea what an incredible diversity of moths existed… Anyway, it’s 2 am here and I’ll see what else I can find tomorrow, but thought for now this might be an interesting side note… Thanks, look forward to hearing any comments you have
Susan Cousineau
(Kananaskis Country, Alberta)
Hi Susan,
There is an Argentine moth in the same genus you mention, Rothschildia jacobaeae. The transparent areas on the wing of your moth differ slightly in shape from the ones pictured online, but we would still wager this is the same species.
Thanks for your note about R. jacaobaeae – however I think the photo matches much more closely to R. forbesi, unless all of the R. jacaobaeae photos I am seeing are males and the females are different… The big difference, I think, is that in R. f. the “windows” (or mirrors) are closed; in R. j. they break into the edge patterns of the wings. ???? Tell me what you think. I also have a ream of other moths I’d like identified as I’m just pulling together a little presentation of my trip and would really like them to be properly named – if you’re interested! Thanks,
Susan
Hi Susan,
We cannot find any information that Rothschildia forbesi ranges to Argentina. There are also other members of the genus. Based on the known ranges, we still favor Rothschildia jacobaeae.
Correction: (03/21/2008)
Daniel, Regarding the two Rothschilida … the one from Panama is R. triloba; the one from Jujuy, Argentina is Rothschildia maurus. I am happy to help with any Saturniidae identifications. Is there any way you can put me in contact with either of these two photographers??
Bill Oehlke
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Posted 08 February 2007
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Japanese bugs
Hi – I’m happy to have found your site – I have a new site to waste time with! I live in Japan and there are tons of bugs that I’ve never seen before. I think I’ll add some neat pics to your collection as well. I haven’t been able to find any information on these insects – almost all the information i find is in Japanese, and I’m not quite proficient in the language to learn interesting things about these guys. All of these pictures are from Shikoku (the smallest of the 4 main islands in Japan) Any information would be appreciated, I haven’t seen any info on your site about any of these, so maybe you’ll have some fun researching these..
Nick
This is a huge moth we found on the wall. It was about the size of a small bat. It flies like one too. I’m wondering if that’s how it camoflauges itself from birds. The size is about 3.5 inches from from head to tail. The wingspan is impressive.
Hi Nick,
It didn’t take us too long to identify your Japanese Oak Silkmoth, Antheraea yamamai. It is a highly variable species, with wings that vary from brown, through yellow, through orange. We found a website with wonderful images of the variations.
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Posted 30 January 2007
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what’s THIS bug?
Other than a moth — that much I know. Took this picture in the summer in northeastern North Carolina.
THANKS!
Tommi
Hi Tommi,
This is an Oakworm Moth in the genus Anisota. There are several similar looking species.
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Posted 28 January 2007
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Hey!
Hi!
Very interesting website. I stumbled upon it while trying to find out some information. My friend had given me a silkworm cocoon from our work (we sell feeder bugs) as a joke, thinking it wouldn’t open….. and WOW. I haven’t looked at the cocoon for a few days and all of a sudden its there.
Thanks for sending this image of a Domestic Silk Moth, Bombyx mori, though our readers will never encounter one in the wild. According to Charles Hogue in Insects of the Los Angeles Basin: “This is a totally domesticated insect that cannot survive without man’s constant care. The species has been selectively bred for centuries to imporve the quality of its silk. But in the process it has lost its self sufficiency: although its wings remain, they are stunted and weak and no longer serve their original purpose of flight.”
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Posted 23 January 2007
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Moth?
I saw this on a neighbor’s screen door in Satellite Beach, FL on 7 Jan 2007. First picture is what I saw before prodding with a twig to see if it was alive. It didn’t move, but I was able to move the wing coverlets and took 2nd picture.
Charles E. McKusick
Hi Charles,
This is a female Io Moth, one of the smaller native Saturnid Moths. Saturnid Moths do not eat as adults. The females release a pheromone that attracts a mate, often from miles away. These beauties fly just to mate and reproduce. The eyespots are a defense mechanism. If a bird or other hungry carnivore pecks at the moth, ths “eyes” are revealed, startling the would be predator.
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Posted 15 January 2007
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Male Actias Luna in January?
Hi Bugman,
Thanks for your dedication to the inspiring and educational "What’s That Bug?" website. You are sparking the entomologist in every viewer’s heart- whether they knew they had it in them or not! This beautiful moth appears to be an Actias Luna and I think it is a male. Because it is appearing in January, I am wondering if it is an example of an earlier generation for this year or if you think it is an added generation from last year? Either way, it is supposed to be dormant in an "overwinter" stage but there is no winter to over! Thanks again for your assistance! I look forward to your reply – if time allows.
Jessica Madden
Education Specialist
The Tampa Tribune
News In Education
Hi Jessica,
Insects that have defined generations generally have individuals that appear out of season. Also, the emergence patterns will change if the winter is warmer or colder than normal. This is most definitely a Luna Moth. Congratulations on a wonderful sighting.
Giant orange striped fuzzy mutant moth creature!
Hello! I found this giant orange striped fuzzy moth creature at my work here in Pittsburgh PA near the airport runway. I have never seen something like this before, nor has anyone I work with… we are hoping you can help us identify this mutant moth! Thank you.
-greg
Hi Greg,
Despite sending us this photo in January, we suspect you encountered this Royal Walnut Moth or Royal Moth sometime in the spring. This is the adult form of the frightening but harmless Hickory Horned Devil. Both caterpillar and adult moth are quite striking and spectacular.
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Posted 03 January 2007
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Could you please id this furry S. FL moth
I’m in S. Palm Beach County, FL. There was hundreds of these flying around a preserve scrub habitat, I thought they were skipper butterflies until I got a better look. By noon they all had found a place to rest and none were flying anymore. I only guess they feed on oaks or palms. I’ve id’ed many critters by just browsing your webpages. Thanks so much for the great adventures
Emilia
Boca Raton, FL
Hi Emilia,
Adult Buck Moths, Hemileuca maia, do not feed, but the caterpillars do feed on oaks. Your observation supports the comment on BugGuide that the moth is “Said to fly rapidly at mid-day through oak forests.”
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Posted 25 December 2006
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Unidentified Caterpiller
Came across this larvae while out hunting yesterday evening. To give you an idea of the length of the caterpillar, the arrow broadhead next to the caterpiller is right at about 2 inches long. Figure the larvae is about 3 inches. Nearest I can tell, its some sort of silkwork moth. I perused thru your archives and found this exact caterpiller, submitted on 9/9/04. However, the caterpillar could not be identified. Hopefully, this is a little better photo for you to work with. Its got me stumped, as I used to raise Polyphemus and Cecropias, and this don’t look like either! Thanks!
Cameron
Hi Cameron,
We believe this is a Luna Moth Caterpillar.
polyphemus
Hi,
I took these pictures a while ago while my boyfriend and I were exploring a nearby forest preserve in Garland, TX. It was the first saturniid I’d ever seen, and my encounter with it had me hooked on bugwatching ever since.
Samantha
Hi Samantha,
Thank you so much for sending in your photos of a Polyphemus Moth.
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Posted 01 November 2006
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