Is this some type of Sphinx Moth?
Dear “What That Bug?”;
I found your link on the Web and I’m it’s still active. I’m trying to identify a moth I found on my lanai this morning (photo attached). It is up too near the ceiling for me to actually measure it, but it looks to be at least 5 inches long. I’m wondering if it might be some type of Sphinx moth. Can you tell me what it is? Thanks and regards,
Carolyn Plank
Vero Beach , FL
Hi Carol,
Your are correct. Your sphinx is a Gaudy Sphinx, a species found mainly in Florida and occasionally Texas in the U.S. but quite common in the Caribbean.
unknown moth
We found this moth this morning and when we released it outside, it landed on a tree and took this defensive stance. Can you please identify it for us? Thank you. Please reply to lmdavis@swmail.sw.org aSAP. Thanks again.
Linda
Hi Linda,
Your moth is a male Io Moth, Automeris io, one of the Saturnid Moths. Female Io Moths have brown forewings rather than yellow.
???
I’m not sure if this is a bug. This creature was hovering outside of my mom’s window last night. It is about 10-12 inches long. It has a tan head that looks like the head of a bat. The wings and body are green, with a forked tail. It looks like green leaf lettuce. She said that it flew like a hummingbird, with it’s wings moving so rapidly it appeared to hover. I have more pictures if needed, but this is the clearest picture because it was really dark outside. It was clearly attracted to the light. She said that when she turned the light out, it immediately appeared outside another window where the light was on.
We wish you had provided a location for your Luna Moth. We expect to be getting sightings from as far north as Maine and possibly Canada by June.
Sorry, this was spotted on April 30th in Cumberland City, TN. Thanks for your help… I eventually found it last night, but I didn’t find anything saying a luna moth could get that big!
Ed. Note: The staff of What’s That Bug? does not wish to comment on the alleged size of the subject Luna Moth, which is estimated at twice the size of all published documentation we have seen.
Question: Help! What is this bug?!
Dear Bugman,
Please help me identify this bug. I have searched all the pages on the internet for moths and cannot locate a picture that looks like this one. Thank you so much!
Julie
Hi Julie,
On our website, the Sphinx Moths, a large family, get their own pages separate from general moths. This is a White Lined Sphinx, Hyles lineata. It is one of the most common U.S. Sphinx Moths, and in desert areas the species go through cyclical population explosions. Because the California rains this season have been spread out rather than concentrated, there is lush native plant growth and we expect to continue to get reports of both the adult Striped Morning Sphinx moths and the caterpillars as well.
White Lined Sphinx Caterpillar
(03/26/2008) caterpillar picture attached
I saw this caterpillar in Anzo-Borrego Desert in southern California last week. Curious if you know what it is. Pictures attached.
paul
Hi Paul,
With the desert wildflowers being so spectacular this year, there is plenty of food for plant eaters like caterpillars. We expect to get numerous queries regarding your species, the White Lined Sphinx or Striped Morning Sphinx, Hyles lineata. The caterpillars of this species are highly variable and become quite numerous at times. They were eaten by Native Americans and still are eaten by some adventuresome modern Americans as well.
Question: Help! What is this bug?!
Dear Bugman,
Please help me identify this bug. I have searched all the pages on the internet for moths and cannot locate a picture that looks like this one. Thank you so much!
Julie
Hi Julie,
On our website, the Sphinx Moths, a large family, get their own pages separate from general moths. This is a White Lined Sphinx, Hyles lineata. It is one of the most common U.S. Sphinx Moths, and in desert areas the species go through cyclical population explosions.
Photo from Dominican Republic
This guy was so spectacular, about 5 inches long and happily stayed with us all day. Love your site and would love to know what type of moth this is. Thanks
Wendy
Hi Wendy,
Your moth is a Rustic Sphinx, Manduca rustica. According to Bill Oehlke, the Rustic Sphinx: “flies in warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical forests and second growth woodlands from Virginia to south Florida, west to Arkansas, Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California and Puerto Rico and Cuba, and then further south through Central America to Brazil : Mato Grosso (JvB), Para, Roraima; Bolivia and Uruguay.”
Help with ID
Hi,
This zoomed across my yard and landed on a tomato leaf. The red wings were striking. Haven’t been able to ID it though. Thanks for the help.
tim williford
Melbourne, FL
Hi Tim,
Though it looks wasplike, this is a Spotter Oleander Caterpillar Moth, Empyreuma affinis.
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Posted 23 April 2008
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not sure
I found this trapped inside my pool enclosure last night – at first I thought it was a Vega Sphinx Moth, but in looking at this site ( http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3461 ) the under part of the wings don’t match.
Johanna van Daalen
Melbourne, FL
Hi Johanna,
Your beautiful moth is a Guady Sphinx. Do you always get a manicure before handling insects?
Daniel,
I try to keep my nails looking their best, you never know when a camera or a gaudy moth is going to be around! Thank you so much, love your website!
Johanna
Hi again Johanna,
Here at What’s That Bug? we both understand the importance of being camera ready as well. You are our kind of gal: not afraid to handle insects and looking good in the process.
ha! i saw your comment on the website about not being afraid to handle bugs – i work with raccoons and otters, bugs are nothing!!! (unless that bug’s a SPIDER!!!)
Johanna
mating Polyphemus Moths
Hello all. It’s Spring in North Carolina, and I just found these rascals enjoying the mild weather beneath my garden hose box. I’m pleased and relieved that I didn’t find the copperhead snake that I’d expected when I originally spotted the edge of one wing beneath the box. Love is in the air, and within 1 inch of the ground. Keep up the good work.
Craig in Central NC
Hi Craig,
Thanks for sending such a gorgeous image of mating Polyphemus Moths. “Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass,” at least there will be a new generation of Polyphemus Moths thanks to this romp on the lawn.
Cecropia Moth in San Francisco
I came across your site after finding a cecropia moth at my office near San Francisco and saw that you told someone previously that the one they found must have been an escapee. After doing some research and verifying with entomologists at California Academy of Sciences, it was determined that the moth I found (as well as the one found by your previous poster) is a Hyalophora euryalus , or Ceanothus moth, common to the west coast of the US. You reorted to Chris and Josephine that they only occur east of the Rockies.
Just thought I would clarify. I have attached a picture of the moth I have found.
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Chris,
We are in full agreement that your moth is a Ceanothus Silk Moth, Hyalophora euryalus, but we still believe the previous posting from San Francisco is a closely related Cecropia Moth. The red edges on the wing markings and striped body are visual cues that lead us in that direction. We are not however entomologists. We are artists, and if an entomologist said the previous moth is a Ceanothus Silk Moth, we will defer, however, if you are basing this soley on the image that you have sent us without the entomologist reviewing the other image, then we cannot agree.
Bugman:
My son found a very large caterpillar several months ago. We kept it and watched it make its cocoon. It just came out of the cocoon this morning. Here is a picture. Please tell me what kind it is. Sorry I didn’t take a picture of the caterpillar or cocoon. Thanks,
Tom Pace
Hi Tom,
This gorgeous moth is known as the Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth. The striking caterpillar is called a Hickory Horned Devil. We get numerous moth and caterpillar photos, but we are sadly lacking in a pupa image.
Luna Moth
I found this moth on my deck last week-end(4-5-08) south of Shreveport,La…Found your site to learn what type this was…Thought I would write and send in the picture I took of it…Thanks
Darrell
Hi Darrel,
Your photo of a Luna Moth is quite beautiful. We are getting many excellent Luna Moth photos this year and are changing the image on our homepage several times a week.
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