THIS IS NOT ON YOUR PAGE.OPEN IT AND AT LEAST TELL ME THAT I AM A WASTE OF YOUR TIME
I HAVE SENT YOU A MESSAGE ON THIS BEFORE BUT I GEUSS I DID NOT GET YOUR ATTENTION.I WOULNT SEND IT AGAIN BUT I HAVE CHECKED YOUR SITE AND LIKE 20 OTHERS.PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THIS IS.THERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF IT.I LIVE IN KINGSLAND GEORGIA.THAT IS JUST ON THE BORDER OF FLORADA.MABEY BY POSTING THIS OTHER PEOPLE WONT SEND YOU THE SAME PICTURE.
Polka-Dot Wasp Moth
Your insect is a Polka-Dot Wasp Moth, and we have at least 20 images on our site. The problem you probably had is that you never thought to look under moths since the Polka-Dot Wasp Moth is such an effective wasp mimic. On a more personal note, answering the letters of our readership gives us such gratification, it is never a waste of our time.
¶ Posted 17 September 2008 § ‡ ° Sphinx/Hawkmoth
I know you are incredibally busy. You previuosly helped me identify mournful sphinx moths that feed on flowers in my backyard and hover like hummingbirds. I have a new photo of a gaudy sphinx I’ve attached. Can you please tell me the difference between hawk moths and sphinx moths? Do all sphinx moths hover like hummingbirds? Are there hawk moths in Central Florida?Thanks,
Tobey Barr
Gaudy Sphinx Moth
Hi Tobey,
Thanks so much for your gorgeous photo of a Gaudy Sphinx. To answer your question, Sphinx Moths and Hawk Moths are the same, but it is a local preference. In the U.S. we say Sphinx and Brits call them Hawk Moths.
Moth
I look at your bug page just about everyday and enjoy everything about it, I came across this moth a while back and can’t ID it and thought maybe you could help. I live right outside San Antonio, Texas. Thank You…
This is a positively beautiful photograph of a Walnut Sphinx, Amorpha juglandis, which can be found on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website.
¶ Posted 12 September 2008 § ‡ ° Unusual but pretty
Hi folks,
while I was out walking near the shore in Cumbria UK, I come accross these rather pretty little creatures. I have never seen anything like them before so my question is: I didn’t kill them I just took a picture and let them be! What are they? Picture attached…
James W. Smith
Hi James,
These are mating Six Spot Burnet Moths, Zygaena filipendulae, and according to the UK Moths website, they are the commonest day flying Burnet Moth in Britain.
Update: 18 September 2008
Hi, great website. Your pictures of burnet moths titled ” Six Spot Burnet Moths Mating in the UK, (09/12/2008) Unusual but pretty” are actually narrow-bordered five spot burnet moths Zygaena lonicerae. Couldn’t see any way of adding this info to the site.
Cheers
Carterocephalus
¶ Posted 12 September 2008 § ‡ ° mournful sphinx??
Central Florida, photo taken 9.3.08.
Is this a mournful sphinx? It drinks from my pentas in the evening and hovers like a hummingbird. I’ve always called them hummingbird hawk moths. They come in pairs, and one is darker than the other. They are 1-1.5" tip to tail. Thanks,
Tobey Barr
Hi Tobey,
In our opinion, you are correct with your identification of a Mournful Sphinx, Enyo lugubris. You can read more about this wide ranging Sphinx on Bill Oehlke’s website.
Oleander Hawk Moth
This moth was photographed in Oklahoma in August 2008. From what I have read on your site, this is primarily a Mediterranean moth, except it has been found in Hawaii. Is it unusual to be found in the center of the United States?
DANIEL B. BAUMANN, P.E.
Hi DANIEL,
While an Oleander Hawkmoth would be quite unusual in Oklahoma, your own Pandorus Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus, is not so strange. You can read up on them on Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website.
Moth Mates
Hello,
I saw a bunch of these bright moths swarming the garage at work. This picture was taken in July. These guys were hanging from a roof. I imagine the little one is the male? Thanks,
Katie
Benton Harbor, MI
Hi Katie,
These are mating Oakworm Moths in the genus Anisota. The World’s Largest Saturniidae Site lists three members of the genus in Michigan and they can be difficult to tell apart. We believe these are either Anisota senatoria, the Orange-Tipped Oakworm Moth or Anisota virginiensis, the Pink-Striped Oakworm Moth. More information on this genus can be located on BugGuide. Yes, the smaller darker moth is the male.
Moths
I have spent hours searching the Internet and your site and the Holland book you recommended. Two of the attached pictures are of a moth with its wings open and closed; I though perhaps it could be a pine moth. The other picture (sorry it is a little fuzzy) is of a beautiful moth 3-4 inches in size. Any help is appreciated. These are taken near Prescott, Arizona in a pine forest. Love your site.
Jane Shrum
Hi Jane,
The moth with the open and closed wing view looks like a Pandora Moth, Coloradia pandora, which can be found on BugGuide. There are several other very similar looking species in the same genus also found in Arizona, but our money is on the Pandora Moth.
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