unusual bug in Hawaii
Location: Maui, Hawaii
October 17, 2010 7:58 am
Aloha. I live on Maui and purchased a plant at Home Depot a few days ago. The time of year is currently mid-October. Today I noticed what I thought was a discolored leaf, and when I went to pick it off, I was startled that it felt like a moth. It was a very beautiful insect with its wings spread and I quickly grabbed my camera and took a few shots. It was green and white with a wing span of about three inches or more. I have never seen anything quite like this and can’t seem to identify it. Do you know what this green and white flying insect that I found in Hawaii is? Mahalo.
Signature: Diana in Hawaii
Puss inspects Oleander Hawkmoth
Hi Diana,
It seems your puss is quite enthralled with this lovely Oleander Hawkmoth, Deilephila nerii or Daphnis nerii. According to Bill Oehlke’s website, Sphingidae of the Americas, the Oleander Hawkmoth is an old world species found in “the southern Mediterranean region, North Africa and the Middle East to Afghanistan” and “In 1974, this species was recorded as having established itself in Hawaii.”
Oleander Hawkmoth
¶ Posted 17 October 2010 § ‡ ° T-shaped creature
Location: Austin, TX
October 16, 2010 11:12 pm
I found this on the window of a restaurant. Never seen anything quite like it. It was moving only slightly, and a while later I looked again and it was gone, I’d like to know where it keeps its wings…
Got top and bottom pictures by virtue of the glass. I’d say it was about an inch square.
Signature: hcs
Plume Moth
Hi hcs,
This is a Plume Moth in the family Pterophoridae.
Plume Moth
¶ Posted 17 October 2010 § ‡ ° What is it?
Location: Leeds, UK
October 17, 2010 6:39 am
This was on a sunflower in my garden in Leeds, UK in September this year. What is it? I’ve looked in books but not come across itand when I try o escribe it online I jus get stick insect/s.
Many thanks
Signature: Annie D
Plume Moth
Hi Annie,
This is a Plume Moth in the family Pterophoridae. We often field questions requesting the identity of the “T-bug” and there is an email in our inbox today with the subject line “T-shaped creature” and if we gambled, we would put our money on that image being of a Plume Moth.
¶ Posted 17 October 2010 § ‡ ° Do you know the name of this moth?
Location: SW Florida near Naples
October 14, 2010 8:58 am
This insect was hanging on the purple passion vine yesterday afternoon. It has been there since about 4 PM yesterday and it is still there now. It is 10 AM here now. I am located in SW Florida near Naples.
Signature: Thank You. Elaine
Female Io Moth
Hi Elaine,
We are very happy to post your photo of a female Io Moth. The males of the species have yellow, not brown wings. The underwings, which are hidden from view, have eyespots that are used to frighten predators.
¶ Posted 15 October 2010 § ‡ ° What is this bug?
Location: Offshore Angola, West Africa
October 13, 2010 12:51 am
Dear Bugman,
i met this beuty in an oil field located about 75 nautical miles off the coast of Angola. It is 5-6 cm. long.
Signature: Geir
Unknown Sphinx Moth
Hi Geir,
We are going to post your letter and photo of a Sphinx Moth first and then try to identify the species. Sphinx Moths or Hawkmoths in the family Sphingidae are strong fliers and we are not surprised it was found out to sea. Perhaps if we are not successful with a species identification, our of our readers will be able to supply an answer.
Hi Daniel and Geir:
I believe your moth is the aptly named Verdant Hawkmoth (or Verdant Sphinx Moth), Euchloron megaera (Sphingidae: Macroglossinae) It ranges throughout Africa and Madagascar. Regards. Karl
mixture between butterfly, carterpillar and dragonfly?
Location: Japan, Tokyo
October 12, 2010 7:23 am
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to what kind of insect this is. I saw a lot of those flying insects in Japan lately.
They have a green/yellow or brown/orange hairy body, that looks a little like a big carterpillar.
They have antennae and a proboscis like a butterfly. But their wings are like the wings of a dragonfly and their flying style is also similar to a dragonfly. I think they’re between 4-7 centimeter long.
They’ve been eating the nectar of the flowers on the photo.
I’m sorry for the bad quality but it was quite difficult to take a photo because they were moving really fast all the time.
Thank you for your help!
Sincerely
Signature: Britta Stein
Hummingbird Moth from Japan
Hi Britta,
In North America, closely related diurnal Sphinx Moths are called Hummingbird Moths or Hummingbird Clearwings. We have previously identified a species in Japan as Cephonodes hylas, and that may be your species.
what is this moth or what
Location: Galveston Texas on a jetty
October 10, 2010 7:52 pm
I saw this on a jetty while fishing in the gulf of Mexico in Galveston Island Texas
Signature: author
Tersa Sphinx
Dear author,
Your photo is of a Tersa Sphinx, Xylophanes tersa, one of the most aerodynamic individuals in a family known for streamlined bodies and rapid flight, earning them another common name of Hummingbird Moths, though more specifically that name refers to members of the genus Hemaris.
mating gray/white/black moths
Location: hill above San Mateo, California
October 10, 2010 7:31 pm
I found these two moths, happily oblivious to me, on steps in a yard on the San Francisco peninsula of California. Its a hilly area of grass, shrubs and oak trees. I’d love to get a Latin name for them. Some more photos here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24023&id=100000839873534&l=551cb22641
Signature: Craig Reynolds
Mating Painted Tiger Moths
Hi Craig,
These little beauties are Painted Tiger Moths, Arachnis picta, and they are a common species in Southern California. The caterpillars are of the Woolly Bear type.
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