northern california moth, June 11
Location: menlo park, california
June 8, 2011 12:59 pm
What’s this bug, please?
Signature: friendly neighbors
Ceanothus Silkmoth
Dear friendly neighbors,
We are trying to figure out how you spotted this Ceanothus Silkmoth three days after submitting your identification request.
lol. you funny people. “Jun 11″ meant “June 2011.” we saw it the morning of June 8th.
we are on the west side of the San Francisco Bay valley, just a couple blocks from the start of the foothills. The guest was next to our front door all day, and now we know it was a Ceanothus Silkmoth. Thanks!
Thanks for the clarification. Exact dates can be very important in insect sightings especially when lifespans are short. Ceanothus Silkmoths rarely live longer than a week. They do not eat as adults and the male can sniff a females pheromones with his antennae from many miles away. He is built for flying and she is built for laying eggs.
Moth Identity
Hi there
I found this moth on a mountain road in Palo Alto in the mountains above Boquete in Panama in April 2011.
I believe the genus may be Rothschildia but I really don’t know.
I would be grateful if you could possibly advise as to the full species name and any common names in English or otherwise for this beautiful creature.
Thanking you in anticipation
Regards
Seamus O’Malley
Rothschildia orizaba
Hi Seamus,
This is one of the Giant Silkmoths in the genus Rothschildia, and our research indicates there are four species or subspecies in Panama. In our opinion, this most closely resembles Rothschildia orizaba which is pictured on the Moth Photographers Group website.
what is this??
Location: Irwin, Pennsylvania
June 3, 2011 12:32 pm
Dear Mr. Bugman,
My friend saw this scary bug outside of his home. What is it? I assumed it was some sort of moth. Am I right? Any information would be greatly much appreciated…
Signature: Kat
Luna Moth
Dear Kat,
We cannot understand how anyone could view the ethereal Luna Moth as a scary bug. Your photos tend to indicate that this lovely female Luna Moth was not on the tire when the vehicle moved, which comforts us. Your identification request will post live to our website on June 14 during our absence.
Luna Moth
Mosquito-Moth looking insect?
Location: western New York state
June 3, 2011 8:50 am
Hi, I found this insect taking a break on the outside of our storm door this morning. It appears to have a mosquito body with weird moth-like wings and a curved up tail…I’ve never seen anything like this. Oh, I forgot to get a picture of this, but the legs all came straight down from the thorax to a central grouping, then went outwards. Kinda made it look like the insect had a deeply keeled chest.
I can generally guess the Order of an insect, and often narrow it down to Family when attempting to look one up – but this one has me stumped.
It’s a chilly morning today (even with it being June!), below 60F right now. I think it was trying to warm up in the sun – certainly didn’t mind me taking photos or jostling the door.
Anyways, I’d love to know what genus and/or species this critter is. Thanks in advance!
Signature: Kimberely
Plume Moth
Hi Kimberly,
We get countless requests to identify Plume Moths in the family Pterophoridae, and your creature is a member of that family. Often those identification requests include the graphic description “T Bug” and most members of this family are characterized by their unusual wing formation which causes the insect to resemble the letter T. Trying to get your individual identified to the genus or species level might be difficult. BugGuide is a good place to begin that task. Since we will be out of the office for a week in mid June, we are preparing your letter to go live to our site on June 14.
Plume Moth
White insect
Location: NW Pennsylvania
June 2, 2011 7:10 am
I was just wondering what kind of bug this is? I looked all over for info on it but couldn’t find any sort of insect that looks like this. At first thought it might have been a dragonfly, but it doesn’t have 4 wings, or maybe just a mosquito? I have no clue but this bug is buggin me! I think it’s really neat and would love to know what it is!
Signature: Kaitie
Plume Moth
Hi Kaitie,
People often call the Plume Moth a T Bug because of the unique shape of its wings. Your letter will post live to our site next week during our absence.
THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING!!!
I would have never guessed it was a type of moth!!!
Should I be scared of this?
Location: Near Atlanta
June 7, 2011 7:30 pm
I know…it is actually big enough to carry off a small child. We are a bug loving family though and don’t want to harm the good bugs. When this thing gets close though…heebeejeebies!
Signature: Juliette
Snowberry Clearwing Moth
Hi Juliette,
This is a perfectly harmless Sphinx Moth in the family Sphingidae, a group whose members are frequently mistaken for hummingbirds, especially the diurnal species like this member of the genus Hemaris. Here is an excellent identifying description on Bill Oehlke’s excellent Sphingidae of the Americas website for the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth,: “Hemaris diffinis is a very variable species, but almost always the abdomen sports contrasting black and yellow hairs, the ventral surface being quite black. The legs also tend to be quite dark and there is a black mask running across the eye and along the sides of the thorax.“ The description fits your individual perfectly.
2
Luna moth and rosy maple moths
Location: Strong, Maine
June 7, 2011 7:23 pm
A luna moth appeared last evening (6/6/11)on my garage at about 9:00pm. It remained there today, and I noticed 3 rosy maple moths just a few inches from the luna. Is it coincidental that these two types of moths are together, or is there some reason for there being with each other? By the way, I am in Strong, Maine (Franklin County), so I think my luna is further north than the Vermont luna on your homepage…thanks!
Signature: miamimom
Luna Moth
Dear miamimom,
Thanks for notifying us of your sightings. If conditions like temperature and humidity are correct for the metamorphosis from the pupa to adult of these two species, then they would emerge at the same time. We do not believe there is any other symbiotic relationship between the two. The colors of pale pink and yellow are often described as looking like sherbet by our readers and that combined with the pale green, somewhat like pistachio ice cream, reminds us of the color scheme we always relate to an ice cream parlor. These moths must look beautiful together.
Rosy Maple Moth
2
LUNA MOTH in fredericton, new brunswick, Canada
Location: Fredericton, New brunswick, Canada
June 6, 2011 5:00 pm
Dear Bugman,
I found this BEAUTIFUL specimen the other day on my way to work here up IN Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. I have NEVER seen such BEAUTIFUL MOTH AROUND HERE BEFORE. I believe it to be a LUNA MOTH if i am not mistaken? are these perdy fellows supposed to be this far up north? is it true they only live SEVEN days?
wow, i count myself blessed to have seen and held such a perdy specimen! I couldn’t help but smile as it flew off my hand and away.
Signature: Facinated in Canada
Luna Moth in Canada
Good morning Fa[s]cinated in Canada,
Thanks so much for reporting your Canadian sighting of a Luna Moth. Each year, we enjoy tracking the appearances of Luna Moths beginning with the Southernmost reaches of the range in Texas and Florida, generally in February. As spring weather conditions move north, the Luna Moth sightings come in subsequent months until they culminate with sightings in Maine and Canada in late May and early June. In the south, a second generation often flies in the late summer or early autumn with the second generation passing the winter as a pupa. The individuals from the north also pass the winter as a pupa after the caterpillar forms a cocoon using a leaf that usually falls to the ground where it is covered in fallen leaves and eventually snow.
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