Moth or Butterfly in WI
Hi: This beautiful creature was drying it’s wings (or so I’m guessing) by hanging upside down on our garage door trim this morning. It’s beautiful. I’m unable to find it in my field guide — I’m thinking that it is probably a moth instead of a butterfly because it has such a plump, furry body. I’ve attached several pics that I took this morning. Just would really like to know what it is. Any help you can provide in identifying this beautiful creature would be most appreciated. Thanks!
Ann in WI
Hi Ann,
This is a Cecropia Moth. We have identified so many specimens in the past week, we think it is time to post another photo, and yours is just perfect.
Hi there and thanks for your informative site
As best as I can see – the moths on my front porch today are Modest Sphinxes – they do not seem to have the distinct battle colors of the Cerisy’s. We live in the country east of Parker Colorado
Don Mackenzie
Hi Don,
Your photo is breathtakingly beautiful. This is a species closely related to the Modest Sphinx. It is the Big Poplar Sphinx, Pachysphinx occidentalis, the pale color form. Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website has some nice images of this beautiful moth. We have also heard it called the Western Poplar Sphinx.
New Photos…
Hey there Bugman,
Here is a photo of a wasp-moth my boyfriend took a while ago, or atleast i believe it is a wasp-moth. he has other insect related photos in his photostream if you would like to see. Thanks
Jeighmee
All of the photos in the stream where taken in Puerto Rico, the wasp-moth more specifically was taken in the southern part of Puerto Rico.
Hi Jeighmee,
We will contact lepidopterist Julian Donahue to see if he can correctly identify your moth.
Update: (06/23/2008)
Appears to be Horama pretus. Dorsal view at: http://www.inra.fr/internet/Produits/PAPILLON/arctiid/texteng/h_pretus.htm The related species, Horama panthalon texana, occurs in the U.S.
Julian
¶ Posted 20 June 2008 § ‡ ° Moth ID
Dear "Bugman",
Can you help with the ID of this nicely scary-"eyed" moth? We live in rural SE lower Michigan, about 30 miles west of Ann Arbor. Thanks,
Judy Gray
Hi Judy,
Many Sphinx Moths and Saturnid Moths, including your male Io Moth, have eyespots on the underwings that startle predators.
My kids found the Moth or Butterfly outside our front door. They want me to identify it. Please help me look like a smart momma. Thanks,
D’Lonna
Texas
Hi D’Lonna
The fact that you cared enough to research on the internet makes you a smart momma. This moth is a Vine Sphinx, Eumorpha vitis. It is a wide ranging species that can be found in Argentina up through the souther United States, and it occasionally strays as far north as Nebraska according to Bill Oehlke’s excellent website. The caterpillar feeds on vines, and is especially fond of grape
can you tell me what this is
It was too high to get a straight on picture…..is it a moth or butterfly?? How very beautiful….the color and the texture intrigue me. I’m attaching two pictures I was able to take. Thanks in advance for help
Eileen Wanamaker
where are you located????????
Southeastern PA
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for the additional information. We are having trouble identifying your moth. We thought it might be an Owl Moth, Thysania zenobia, or possibly one of the moths in the genus Zale, but we can’t be certain.
No, it is not an Owlet Moth….I’ve checked and the pictures online look nothing like the moth I took the picture of. It seems to be a type of moth in the Zale family, the best I can compare, but I can’t find the exact name for it.
how large was it???
Ed. Note: (06/22/2008)
We contacted lepidopterist Julian Donahue and here is what he has to say: “It’s a geometrid: The Common Lytrosis, Lytrosis unitaria. Looks like a male, judging from the antennae. Julian”
¶ Posted 18 June 2008 § ‡ ° A sphinx moth of some sort?
Hi
Found this hanging on a lavender bush in my garden today. We live just south of Vancouver BC near the Washington border. It is similar in size to other sphinx moths I have seen at Adams Lake BC, but a different colour. Can you help? Thanks
Margaret
Hi Margaret,
Your moth is a Blinded Sphinx, Paonias excaecata. You can read more on Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website.
Moth Identification Help
Hello, I found your site tonight after seeing an unusual (what I assume to be a moth) bug that sparked my interest and I hope you can help me since my research turned up nothing and I am still curious. It was found outside under my porch light at about 11pm in Alpharetta, Ga. Thanks,
Jon
Hi Jon,
This is a Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth. Perhaps, come September, you will be lucky enough to see its amazing caterpillar, the Hickory Horned Devil.
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