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Wasp Moth from Morocco

What is this?
Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 6:54 AM
We have recently seen these unusual (to us anyway!) flying insects and would love to know what they are. We spotted them mating on the grass outside our house one day a few weeks ago (mid march), and then saw quite a few of them flying around for the next couple of weeks. Then in the last few days we have seen their corpses lying around. Unfortunately the picture is not too clear as it was taken with the cellphone camera. The closest thing I have been able to find is a polka dot wasp moth. They have a shiny turquoise abdomen wih 3 distinct shiny orange rings around the middle and one around the top of the abdomen. The wings are black and have creamy coloured spots on them. I would love to know what they are!
Trish
Agadir, Morocco

wasp moths mating morocco trish 300x247 Wasp Moth from Morocco

Mating Unknown Wasp Moths from Morocco

Beautiful Bug
Sat, Apr 4, 2009 at 8:20 AM
I spotted this beautiful flying insect around middle of march, and have no idea what it is! I noticed they were mating around this time,and then saw quite a few flying around for the next couple of weeks, then they started dying. I am not a bug person at all, but would love to know what this beautiful creature is. Thanks.
Trish
Agadir, Morocco

wasp moth morocco trish 300x225 Wasp Moth from Morocco

Unknown Wasp Moth from Morocco

Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 1:33 AM
Is this a Wasp Moth in Morocco?
Trish
Agadir, Morocco

wasp moth morocco trish 2 300x201 Wasp Moth from Morocco

Unknown Wasp Moth from Morocco

Hi Trish,
Thanks for your perseverance in sending us three emails. We are happy your subsequent images are clear and focused. Yes, this is a Wasp Moth. Moths in two different families, Sesiidae and Arctiidae (Tribe Euchromiini) are known as Wasp Moths since they mimic the stinging insects, but are themselves harmless. Your moth is in the tribe Euchromiini and we will check with our friend Julian Donahue, an expert in the Arctiidae, to see if he recognizes the species.

Update: Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:46:25 -0400
It’s a ctenuchine arctiid in the genus Euchromia, but I’ll have to see if I can get a species name at the Museum tomorrow. Not illustrated in any reference I have at hand.
Julian

Update: Tue, 07 Apr 2009
Daniel,
Are you sure it is from “Morocco”?? I checked some references at the Museum yesterday, and there is nothing in Africa or the western Palearctic that matches it.
There are, however, some species from the Moluccas (Indonesia) that are similar, such as Euchromia walkeri from Ternate (Moluccas), and the widespread E. creusa from northern Australia, Fiji, New Guinea, Moluccas, Celebes, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Palau, and elsewhere in the western Pacific.
Furthermore, since it appears to be a female, it doesn’t exactly match any figures I saw (there is often great sexual dimorphism in this group). Send the specimen and I can perhaps come up with a better name.
Julian

Posted 05 April 2009 § Tiger Moths and Arctiids ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Cecropia Moths

Mating Cecropia Moths
Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Thought this photo would be great for your Bug Love section. Beginning of April last year (2008), I saw these 2 Cecropia Moths on a bush at the school I teach at in Buckholts, Texas (central Texas area). I was amazed first by the size of these moths (as I had never seen any moths of this size), and then that I was seeing 2 of them together (figuratively and literally)! The Cecropia Moth has to be the most beautiful insect I’ve ever seen!
Scott Snyder
Central Texas

cecropias mating scott 300x199 Mating Cecropia Moths

Cecropia Moths Mating

Dear Scott,
Though your photo was taken last year, it is just about the right time of year for our southern readers to begin sighting the beautiful Cecropia Moth.

Posted 24 March 2009 § Giant Silk Moths ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

First Luna Moth of 2009

Luna Moth Spotted
Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 9:14 AM
I’ve already determined what it is but I got a great shot of it I wanted to share with your readers. I do have it in much higher res if you want. I spotted it on the wall when coming into my shop the other morning and it was so interesting I had to grab my camera and get a shot of it. Enjoy the photo.
Rich
West Columbia, SC

luna rich 245x300 First Luna Moth of 2009

Luna Moth

Dear Rich,
We always love posting the first Luna Moth of the new year.  Thanks ever so much for your gorgeous photograph.

Posted 24 March 2009 § Luna Moth - Rare Specimen ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Ceanothus Silk Moth

What is this Moth?
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:29 PM
this moth was hanging on the window screen of our house from about 7am when i first noticed it, and was there all day and disappeared sometime in the night after 11pm. it was almost 5 inches wide (as seen in the picture) and very rusty/red. we live about an hours drive south of San Fransisco, California, and about a 30 minute drive from the beach. our house is in the Santa Cruz mountains, about 600ft elevation. this is easily the biggest and most colorful moth I’ve seen (although I’m only 17 and havent seen much) and i would love to know what it is
Will Lawton
Redwood Forest, in the mountains, near the ocean

ceanothus will ruler 300x211 Ceanothus Silk Moth

Ceanothus Silk Moth

Dear Will,
Congratulations on your sighting of a Ceanothus Silk Moth, Hyalophora euryalus, one of the Giant Silk Moths.  It is wonderful that you included both and open winged and closed winged shot and also that your included a ruler.  All of this will assist our West Coast readers who should begin sighting this moth now that spring is approaching.  According to BugGuide:  “adults fly from January to July, depending on altitude, latitude, and seasonal variation”  and  the species ranges from “British Columbia to western Montana, south through west coast states to Baja California. In California, found mostly west of the Sierras. Habitat coastal areas, chaparral, intermontane valleys, conifer forests.”  The caterpillars feed on a variety of leaves including the California lilac or Ceanothus.  Adults do not feed.

ceanothus will 2 259x300 Ceanothus Silk Moth

Ceanothus Silk Moth

Posted 20 March 2009 § Giant Silk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Polyphemus Moth

Big brown and gray moth with leaf like antenni.
Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Big brown and gray moth with leaf like antenni.
Hello,
Today on my porch I came accross a very large brown and gray moth with large antenni that resemble leaves. There are a couple spots on each wing.
Justin
Texas

polyphemus justin1 300x230 Polyphemus Moth

Polyphemus Moth

Hi Justin,
Your moth is a Giant Silk Moth known as the Polyphemus Moth.  The dorsal surface of the lower wings have large spots that resemble eyes, hence naming the moth after the legendary cyclops Polyphemus from the Odyssey.

Posted 19 March 2009 § Giant Silk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Convolvulvus Hawk Moth from Australia

What is this Queensland Moth?
Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Hey there bugman!
I found this dude in the collar of one of my tee shirts that I had on the line today, and he gave me a little freight since I’ve not seen a moth as big as he is before. However, after my initial shock I decided to get him identified by you. After he’d had enough of the photo shoot he took off, possibly to find another collar to sleep in. He was about the size of my thumb and very fuzzy.
thanks bugman
Pseudo
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

convolvulus hawkmont australia 221x300 Convolvulvus Hawk Moth from Australia

Convolvulvus Hawk Moth

Dear Pseudo,
We quickly located your moth on the Brisbane Insects Website and it is a Convolvulvus Hawk Moth, Agrius convolvuli.  We located much information on the species, including another website that indicates has a large range and migrates freely in Europe, Asia and Africa as well as Australia.  More information and photos can be found on the Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic website.

convolvulus hawkmoth australia 2 300x182 Convolvulvus Hawk Moth from Australia

Convolvulvus Hawk Moth

Posted 19 March 2009 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Owlet Moth from Australia: Eporectis tephropis

Strike the pose, amazing moth.
Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Hi guys,
Found this stunning moth and was fortunate enough to have Donald Hobern, an entomologist from CSIRO provide the ID of Eporectis tephropis (Noctuidae: Catocalinae. I could imagine that if it wasn’t against the green surronds that it would look much like a dead leaf. There are no images of this one on the web at the moment but will supply it to Australian Moths Online as well
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia

eporectis tephropis trevor australia 223x300 Owlet Moth from Australia: Eporectis tephropis

Owlet Moth: Eporectis tephropis

Hi Trevor,
As always, your images and contributions to our website are a treasure.  We can only wonder when you will begin your own site.  Thanks for this stunning Owlet Moth image.

Posted 19 March 2009 § Owlet Moths ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Sphinx Moth from Costa Rica: Eumorpha phorbas

What is this Beautiful Bug?
Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 6:09 AM
When I first saw the Bug I thought it was a Big Green Grasshopper. It was about 4inch long 2 to 3 inches across, wider with its wing span. I took the picture’s at night, last May. The Bug was just sitting on the wall of the beach house I was renting in Costa Rica (Limon Provence) close too Boca del Rio Estrella on the Caribbean Sea.
Thank you for your Time,
Beach
Limon Provence, Costa Rica

eumorpha phorbas costarica 269x300 Sphinx Moth from Costa Rica: Eumorpha phorbas

Eumorpha phorbas

Dear Beach,
Your moth is a Sphinx Moth or Hawk Moth in the family Sphingidae. The family name and Costa Rica led us to a website with many choices. At first, we thought your moth resembled the Gaudy Sphinx, so we decided to try members of the genus Eumorpha. We quickly discovered Eumorpha phorbas on the Costa Rican Sphingidae site. There were photos of mounted specimens, but no information on the site. We then searched the name and were led to Bill Oehlke’s excellent site with photos of live specimens and information. The species, which has no common name, ranges in Central and South America.  Oehlke writes:  “Eumorpha phorbas broods continuously with adults on the wing  every month of the year in Costa Rica and along the west coast of South America as far south as Bolivia.  Adults nectar at various  flowers. Eumorpha phorbas larvae probably feed upon grapes  (Vitaceae), dogbane (Apocynaceae), or evening primrose (Onagraceae)  families. ”

Posted 19 March 2009 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

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