big butterfly from buenos aires
Location: buenos aires, argentina
January 22, 2012 3:04 pm
Hello wtb, today when I woke up and went to the bathroom to wash my face I found this big butterfly grabed to the hand towel. It gave me a good scare. It has not moved the entire day, I wonder if it’s alive. I wish I had a better camera so I could take macro shots of it but the ones I’m attaching I think are fine.
Regards from argentina.
Signature: gabxolotl
Black Witch
Dear gabxolotl,
This is a moth known as a Black Witch, Ascalapha odorata, not a butterfly as you speculated. There are many superstitions surrounding this wide ranging species as well as many colorful common names, many of which are indicated on BugGuide. Your submission is the southernmost report we have ever received for a Black Witch and BugGuide does not even list South America as part of the range. Wikipedia, however, does include the common name ”Pirpinto de la Yeta” from Argentina. The Texas Entomology page has a nice report on the natural and cultural history of the Black Witch and the same name is listed for Argentina.
Ed. Note: We originally conducted an offline correspondence (without an attached photo) with Cesar entertaining the possibilities of sighting a Carolina Sphinx in Brazil, presumably outside the range. We responded that there are many similar looking species.
Sphinx Moth
Location: Pico do Jaraguá, São Paulo, Brazil
January 16, 2012 6:42 pm
As you suspected, my picture does not match with Carolina Hawk Moth.
Now, I think it is more related to Agrius singulata, the Pink-spotted Hawkmoth http://bugguide.net/node/view/339497/bgpage [and]
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/acingula.htm
It seems that I am more southern, anyway.
Signature: Cesar Crash
Pink Spotted Hawkmoth
Hi again Cesar,
We agree that this is most likely a Pink Spotted Hawkmoth. Often moths with brown forewings have distinctive hind wings. The underwings on this species are black and pink striped and the pink spots associated with the name can be found on the body. Gently nudging the moth might have caused it to display the distinctive pink coloration.
Moth found on Porch
Location: Just south of Charlotte, NC
January 5, 2012 11:19 pm
I found this moth on my porch and I didn’t know what sort it is. It was fairly large nearly 2 inches long.
Signature: Karen Oliver-Paull
Carolina Sphinx
Hi Karen,
Though its range is not limited to the Carolinas, this impressive moth is known as the Carolina Sphinx. The caterpillar is frequently found feeding on the leaves of tomato plants and related solanaceous plants, and it is called the Tobacco Hornworm. You can read more about the Carolina Sphinx on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
1
Moth identification
Location: Buxton, NC October 28, 2011
October 28, 2011 10:23 am
What moth is this?
Signature: Tory
Tolype
Hi Tory,
Please excuse our very tardy response. This moth is a member of the Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moth family Lasiocampidae, and it is in the genus Tolype. The species are rather difficult to distinguish from one another, and BugGuide has some helpful information.
1
Australian Moth
Location: Sydney’s Northern Beaches
January 2, 2012 5:41 pm
Hello again bugman. I’ve got another potentially tricky moth for you. I managed to find a photo of a similar one on the net, that was of a moth in Georgia, U.S. (http://sparkleberrysprings.com/v-web/b2/index.php?m=200703). Could mine be the same species (I’m in Australia after all)?
Thanks for the previous identification!
Signature: Ridou
Redlined Looper
Dear Ridou,
We are very happy you included a photo of the distinctive underside of this Geometer Moth. We quickly identified it as a Redlined Looper, Crypsiphona ocultaria, on the Brisbane Insect website, and then we substantiated that identification on Dave’s Garden.
Redlined Looper
.
1
Anyone know what this pretty bug is?
Location: South Florida
November 30, 2011 2:09 pm
This bug was in our backyard. It caught my attention because it seemed to be having problems flying. I video taped it walking in circles ”dragging” it’s butt. When my Black Lab went to check it out it did fly a little but never went up in the air. It then just kept fluttering it’s wings like a warning for my Lab to go away. FYI .. My Lab didn’t hurt it. 
Signature: Donna
Xylophanes pluto
Dear Donna,
We are so sorry for the delay. Though we are posting your letter quite late, we are thrilled to be able to include it in our archive which prior to your letter had only one photo of this moth. This is a Sphinx Moth, Xylophanes pluto, a lovely moth that is found in Florida and South Texas and tropical countries to the south according to the Sphingidae of the Americas website. Thank you for including a side view that shows the yellow coloration on the underside of the body. We are copying Bill Oehlke on our response and he may request additional information from you for the comprehensive database he has compiled on Sphinx Moths in North America. We suspect this is a newly metamorphosed individual that recently emerged from its underground pupa. It might have been waiting for its wings to fully expand, dry and harden before embarking on its maiden flight.
Xylophanes pluto
1
household bug
Location: ireland, dublin – ceiling and under beds
November 30, 2011 3:42 pm
dear mr. bugman
for many years now i have had these white small 1cm size chrysalis hanging from my ceiling and now i have uncovered them under the beds, along with oodles of small black piles…? they seem to like leather and clothing under the beds but i have never seen them produce anything like a moth or worm? can you advise
I do not think them any harm but wonder if they contribute to my asthma and allergies, dust mites etc
Signature: debbie m
Case Bearing Moth Larvae
Dear Debbie,
These are Case Bearing Moth Larvae, a common creature found in homes worldwide. While we do not believe they contribute directly to your asthma, they often feed on organic debris like shed hair from pets as well as people. The accumulation of debris under beds and various other places might be contributing to your asthma, and the Case Bearing Moth Larvae are just symptoms of a pre-existing dust problem in your home.
Case Bearing Moth Larvae
Really interesting! Do you mean the moth lives inside the casing and moves about in it? As I have never seen any moths in the house or anything emerge from them? Are they living and moving about in the white case
Kind regards
Debbie Millington
Hi again Debbie,
The case is spun by the larva and occasionally incorporates sand and debris in its construction. The larva lives in the case. Eventually the larva will pupate in the case. Perhaps they have never had a chance to emerge as tiny adult moths because you have discovered them and cleaned them away. It is possible that Case Bearing Moth Larvae my eat organic fibers and protein, hence being considered Household Pests.
1
what is this?
Location: Central Florida
December 1, 2011 3:53 pm
Took my dogs out back today and immediatly my smallest one ran to the side when he saw a bug. This bug released what looked like a milky substance from its backside (a defense mechansim, don’t know). The bug still hasn’t moved it is completely still. I wasn’t able to locate any eyes.
Signature: Thank you
Tersa Sphinx
This incredibly streamlined moth is one of the Hawkmoths or Sphinx Moths, and more specifically it is the Tersa Sphinx, Xylophanes tersa. You may read more about the Tersa Sphinx on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
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