what’s this NZ moth please?
Sun, May 24, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Hi, can you tell us what NZ moth this is? Found it in Tauranga in the evening. Very bright green with long tail. about 25-30mm long.
saskia
Tauranga NZ
Tatosoma tipulata? from Zealand Moth
Dear Saskia,
We haven’t had much luck identifying your unusual moth, but perhaps one of our readers can supply an answer.
Update: Mon, May 25, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Daniel:
Hopefully someone who is familiar with New Zealand moths can confirm this identification, but I believe this curious looking moth is Tatosoma tipulata (Geometridae: Larentiinae), or at least a species in that genus. The few online pictures are of dried specimens and the colors look more brown than green, but there are descriptions that suggest “greenish” coloration on the forewings. The long abdomen is the most curious and distinguishing feature. Dr. Robert Hoare provides a rather poetic and humorous description in The Weta 28: 56-59 (2004) .weta28_56_59 He notes that the Latin name literally translated means “Long body like cranefly”. Regards.
Karl
Dear Karl,
Thanks once again for assisting us in the identification of unusual exotica from far flung global coordinates. This ID sure seems correct to us. Perhaps you will have an opinion on the Brazilian insect with the feathery antennae we are about to post.
Daniel
Luna Moth?
Fri, May 22, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Hello! We are living in Northwest Florida now. Originally from Southern California. Lived In Hawaii for a total of 12 years. We thought we had seen a lot of amazing creatures, but this one was so beautiful! Wasn’t sure if it was a Luna Moth, but we looked at your website, and hoped we had narrowed it down. It didn’t seem to be as big as some people stated, but maybe it was young! I love your site, and refer to it for all the new things we encounter here! I found it on the back door mat.
Sheryl R.
Pensacola, Florida
Luna Moth
Dear Sheryl,
Your moth is indeed a Luna Moth. There is little likelihood that the Luna Moth would be confused with any other North American species. Since Luna Moths have an adult life of only a few days, and since the size of a Luna Moth is determined by the growth of the caterpillar and not the adult form, this moth has reached its maximum size. Not all Luna Moths are the same size and your specimen is just a smaller individual.
Unknown Moth In Michigan
Fri, May 22, 2009 at 8:38 PM
This moth “as you can see” is about the size of a 18 year old male’s hands.
He or she had red, what looked like furr on his back with a white pach “streak” going crossways on its back.
The Abdomen was also striped red black and white.
Season mid spring and time of night around 1130. The legs also being reddish color, would not know if this would help any.
Much obliged if this spicies of moth was known to anyone.
John Hayes
Michigan USA
Cecropia Moth
Dear John,
The Cecropia Moth, according to much of the information we have read, is considered the largest Saturniid Moth in the United States, though the Polyphemus Moth, a relative, might be equally as large. A primarily tropical species, the Black Witch, might be a solid contender for the species with the greatest wingspan, but the Cecropia Moth represented in your photo probably has the greatest wing surface area.
Clarification: The Black Witch is in the family Erebidae.
orange moth in costa rica
Fri, May 15, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I found this moth in costa rica on the eastern coast near panama, what kind is it?
jes
gandoca, costa rica
Acraga coa
Dear Jes,
We are relatively certain we posted this species or a very similar species in the past, but alas, we have not been able to locate an image in our vast archives. We suspect this may be an individual in the family Lasiocampidae that includes the Tent Caterpillar MOths and Lappet Moths. Hopefully, one of our readers will write in with a correct identification.
Acraga coa
Update: Sun, May 17, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Hi Bugman:
It’s a beautiful shot, but a little hard to identify because of the head-on view. I believe it is in the family Dalceridae (Dalcerid moths), a relatively small family of neotropical moths. Orange coloration and very fuzzy legs are typical for the group. The Dalcerids are related to the Megalopygidae and Limacodidae, and the three families are sometimes collectively known as “slug caterpillars”. Whereas many of the Megalopygidae and Limacodidae possess stinging hairs, Dalcerid larvae are covered in gelatinous tubercles which probably deter attacks from predators. I think Jes’s moth may be in the genus Acraga , possibly A. coa . Regards.
Karl
Hi Daniel:
I just found the previous post of this moth on WTB (I should have checked first). Excellent photos and an identification by Dr. Scott Miller at the Smithsonian Institution.
Karl
Thanks Karl,
It is a little sad that we could not quickly locate this identification in our own archives.
Large Spotted Moth
Fri, May 15, 2009 at 10:24 PM
This month (May), we found this large moth on our backyard fence in the piney woods of East Texas. The wings were tan, with orange stripes and yellow spots. The body was large and orange. The entire moth was as large as the palm of my hand. My neighbor tells me she’s seen these around before, but I had never seen one.
Cheryl
East Texas (Lufkin)
Royal Walnut Moth
Hi Cheryl,
This is a lovely Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth. The caterpillar is the equally impressive, but frightening, though harmless, Hickory Horned Devil.
5″ wingspan moth
Mon, May 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Hi,
I chased this lovely beast out of my livingroom tonight with much screaming from my wife!
I’ve no idea what type of moth this could be, maybe you can help?
It was hiding behind the sofa and I had to use a biscuit tin to catch and release it.
Mick Holstead
Capljina, Bosnia Herzegovina
Giant Peacock Moth
Hi Mick,
This is a Giant Peacock Moth, Saturnia pyri, the largest moth in Europe. This moth was the subject of a Vincent Van Gogh painting, but the artist misidentified the moth as a Death’s Head Moth.
Black and White Moth
Sun, May 10, 2009 at 1:48 PM
I’m writing this for my 4 year of daughter who caught this moth and want to kn ow what it eats and what this moth’s name is. SInce last summer when I first started identifying bugs with this page my daughter and I are loving it. Thanks so much for doing this.
The moth was on the house during a chilly day (8 degrees Celsius) on May 10th. We live in Ontario Canada (Ottawa). Although we could not catch it with the camera when the wings are open there are two little blue spots that look like eyes on the under wings.
Sigyn
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
One Eyed Sphinx
Dear Sigyn,
Thank you for the wonderful compliment. This lovely moth is a One Eyed Sphinx or Cerisyi’s Sphinx, Smerinthus cerisyi . The best place to learn about Sphinx Moths of North America is on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website.
Beautiful moth
Sun, May 10, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Hello,
I discovered a beautiful, green moth near the front door this afternoon. I live in the Netherlands and I’ve never spotted a moth like this. Could you tell me what kind of moth this is? And is it common in the area I live in? Thank you very much.
Martijn Wagenaar
Harlingen, The Netherlands
Lime Hawkmoth
Hi Martijn,
This is the second photo we posted this week of a Lime Hawkmoth, Mimas tiliae. The first example was from England. You can read more about this lovely moth on the UK Moths website.
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