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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Fig Sphinxes

Hawk Moths-Do you know what kind. From Florida
Sat, Nov 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM
William Arney

Mating Fig Sphinxes

Mating Fig Sphinxes

Hi William,
These are mating Fig Sphinxes, Pachylia ficus, and we are thrilled to post your photo.

Posted 09 November 2008 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Luna Moth Caterpillar

Mystery Caterpillar in Greenwood, S.C.
Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Hi,
I work at the Greenwood Humane Society here in Greenwood, S.C. While our director was photographing dogs for adoption she spotted this awesome little guy. She called us out ot see if we could id it. I think it looks kind of like a tobacco hornworm ,but upon closer inspection that doesn’t seem right. She guesses it’s size at about 3″ long and 1/4″ in diameter. It is November 6th, but the weather has been very warm for fall here. Today it was around 65-70 degrees. I love your website! Thank you for your time, and all that you do!
M.Bohland
Greenwood, S.C.

Luna Moth Caterpillar

Luna Moth Caterpillar

Hi M,
Your Luna Moth Caterpillar has probably come out of the trees to find a place to spin its cocoon.  Luna Moths spin their cocoon inside of a dried leaf on the ground and pass the winter in the leaf litter under the snow if it is in an area that freezes.

Posted 08 November 2008 § Luna Moth - Rare Specimen § Silkworms ‡ Comments (1) °

Unknown Mexican Moth is Acraga coa

Orange Furry Moth
Mon, Oct 27, 2008 at 7:35 PM
I saw this moth on my kitchen window at night in Jocotepec, JAL, Mexico. He was about one inch long. The first photo is him on a piece of white paper and the second photo is him on a piece of glass, shot from the other side.
David Brownell
Jocotepec, JAL, Mexico

Unknown Mexican Moth

Unknown Mexican Moth

Hi David,
Your photos are spectacular. We don’t know what this moth is and we don’t have time to research at the moment as we must dash off to work, but we are posting and hope someone can provide an answer. Here is what Julian Donahue, our neighbor the lepidopterist had to say: “It’s in the family Dalceridae. The expert on the group is Dr. Scott Miller at the Smithsonian Institution. You might want to send him the photo to get a species name. Julian”
With that information, we located a mounted specimen of Acraga coa that looks promising, but the mounted specimen lacks all the charm of David’s photographs.

Unknown Mexican Moth

Unknown Mexican Moth

Spectacular picture!  It is a Dalceridae, and the species is Acraga coa.
Dr. Scott Miller
The Smithsonian Institution

Posted 28 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Large Tolype

Mating Large Tolype
Sun, Oct 26, 2008 at 4:18 AM
Thought you would like a picture of two Tolype mating. These were on the side of a large flower pot. I took this picture on 9/22/08. I live in Geetingsville, Indiana, located in central Indiana. I do not know what that is on the pot to the left of the Tolype. About a week later it was gone. Thanks, Diane Little
Diane
Geetingsville, IN. Central Indiana

Large Tolype Moths Mating

Large Tolype Moths Mating

Hi Diane,
WE agree that this pair is more likely the Large Tolype, Tolype velleda, than the Small Tolype, Tolype notialis, based on the comments on BugGuide. The species is also called the Velleda Lappet Moth.

Posted 27 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Black Witch

Moth found in San Francisco, CA late Sept
Sat, Oct 25, 2008 at 8:47 AM
Our Neighbor found this moth in San Francisco in late Sept and brought it to my 9 yr old daughter for identification. She and I have been trying to match it up with moths from various sites and books but have been unsuccessful. Can you tell us what this is?
Sierra needs to know
San Francisco, CA

Black Witch

Black Witch

Hi Sierra,
This beauty is a Black Witch, a Central American Noctuid Moth that migrates north each year.  This migration, which could take specimens as far north as Canada, is unexplainable as the Black Witch does not breed except possibly in the extreme southern U.S.

Posted 26 October 2008 § Black Witch ‡ Comments (0) °

Hummingbird Clearwing

Is this a clearwing moth
Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Took this photo in northeastern Illinois. I believe that it is a clearwing moth, but I do not know what type.
Norm Carl
northeastern Illinois near Chicago

Hummingbird Clearwing

Hummingbird Clearwing

Hi Norm,
We are happy to see that you figured out how to send the photo before we had a chance to respond.  We believe this is a Hummingbird Clearwing, Hemaris thysbe, but there are closely related species in the genus Hemaris that sometimes confuse us.  You can find lots of great information and photos on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website.

Posted 22 October 2008 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (1) °

Painted Arachnis laying Eggs

Moth
Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 9:07 PM
This moth was laying eggs on the wall of my house in Oakland, CA. She was about 1″ long.
Laurie K.
Oakland, CA

Painted Arachnis Laying Eggs

Painted Arachnis Laying Eggs

Hi Laurie,
Your moth is a common Southern California Tiger Moth known as a Painted Arachnis.  We had eight individuals on our screen door and near our porch light on Mt Washington in Los Angeles this past week.  One female also laid eggs.  Over the years, we have observed these moths laying eggs on our walls numerous times.  The caterpillars are general feeders of the Woolly Bear type.

Posted 21 October 2008 § Eggs § Tiger Moths and Arctiids ‡ Comments (0) °

Many Plumed Moth from Australia

The most beautiful moth ever?
Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Hi guys,
I just photographed this tiny diaphenous moth on the mudguard of my car and had to share it with you. I’ve sent it to you in a large picture size as the specks make it hard to see detail when it is downsized. The background is the green metallic paint of my car, the moth is only about 1cm wingtip to wingtip. I am blown away by how beautiful it is and so delicate, it is one of the most beautiful moths I have ever seen. Hopefully someone knows what it is.
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia

Many Plume Moth from Australia

Many Plume Moth from Australia

Hi Trevor,
WE are quite certain this is a Many-Plume Moth in the family Orneodidae, but we haven’t the time to research an exact species. With our current internet problems due to a weak Time Warner signal that the cable company is having problems correcting, we cannot do any further research at the moment. Our very old edition of An Introduction to Entomology by John Henry Comstock states: “These insects resemble the Plume-Moths in having the wings fissured; but her the fissuring is carried to a much greater extent than in that family, each wing being divided into six plumes.” Perhaps this information will help with an exact identification.

Update:
ID for that Plume Moth
Hi Guys,
found an ID for the plume moth, Alucita phricodes. Thanks for posting the picture. Queensland, Australia

Hi Trevor,
We always like linking to other images and information online, and we were quite surprised to see your photo already posted to the Moths of Australia website.

Posted 20 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Luna Moth

Moth???
Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 5:52 AM
Dear Bugmen,
I was in the yard the other day and noticed this large green moth hanging from the bottom of my house. I have never seen anything like this before and was wondering if you could help me identify it? I believe it is some type of moth. I think the pattern is really beautiful. Thank you:)
S. Peters
Port orange, Florida

Luna Moth

Luna Moth

Dear S.,
This beauty is a Luna Moth.  We have received so many photos over the years that we have devoted an entire section to this species.  The Luna Moth is one of the Giant Silk Moths.  This group does not eat as adults, living only to mate.

Posted 16 October 2008 § Luna Moth - Rare Specimen ‡ Comments (0) °

Tolype species

Is this moth in its right home?
Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 4:48 AM
Dear Bug Guy, My daughter saw this moth on our doorframe, and I took a picture which I am enclosing. I tried to find the moth on here, and after going through numerous pages, by the way, just how many are there? I went back to October of 2007, and still didnt find this moth. When I saw the moth that was sent in by K. on Oct 9, 07 I had to wonder if this moth is in its right home, and of course the big question, What is this Moth? And what is that on its back?
Thank you for any information,
Lisa Benningfield
Eastern Kentucky USA

Tolype species

Tolype species

Hi Again Lisa,
We may have posted the photo of the Tolype species after you sent us your photo, but there is currently a moth very similar to yours on our home page.  The genus is Tolype and we are unsure of the species.  The “hairy” or “furry” body is typical of the genus.

Posted 16 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Tolype species

Possible Tiger Moth?
Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 8:26 AM
These pictures taken in South Western Ontario, in mid-August. Using a black light and blanket to attract insects. Wondering if these are from the Tiger Moth family based on the tuft of ‘fur’. But i cannot tell what species. Wingspan aproximately 1 - 1.25 inches
Bug-eyed Canadian
South Western Ontario, Canada

Tolype species

Tolype species

Dear Bug-Eyed,
Your moth is in the genus Tolype meaning it is not a Tiger Moth.  The genus is part of the family Lasiocampidae, theTent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths.  BugGuide shows five species of Tolype, and we don’t feel qualified to identify your specimen to the species level.  Though you didn’t request the information, the other insect in your photo looks like a Water Boatman in the family Corixidae.

Posted 15 October 2008 § Toe Biters ‡ Comments (0) °

Red-Waisted Florella Moth

Red-waisted Florella Moth
Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 5:28 PM
I Found many of these moths on, Bidens bipinnata (Spanish Needle). They never close their wings, even when under leafs. I hope they don’t think they are hiding.
F. Allen
Palmetto, Florida

Red Waisted Florella Moth

Red Waisted Florella Moth

Dear F. Allen,
Thanks so much for providing a photo of a new species for our site.  We matched it to an image  on the Moth Photographers Group website.  The scientific name is Syngamia florella.

Posted 13 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Ello Sphinx Caterpillar and Emerged Adult

Large, smooth, green caterpillar in Florida
Hello Bugman!
I hope you can help me. I found this lovely, large caterpillar on a silver buttonwood bush in my Florida yard. I live in Brevard County on the east coast. Two sites have suggested that it may be a Tantalus Moth, but I could not find photos of a Tantalus Moth caterpillar online or in any books to verify it. This picture shows the critter on the branch he was eating. Do you recognize this caterpillar? He is 3″ long, the size of my index finger. Thank you!
Donna Peters
Indialantic, FL

Fig Sphinx Caterpillar

Fig Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Donna,
We are nearly certain that this is the caterpillar of the Fig Sphinx, Pachylia ficus. This is a highly variable caterpillar. We have checked Bill Oehlke’s excellent website, and the coloration on your specimen somewhat resembles one on his site, but it is still different. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on this response so he can verify that our identification is correct. If our identification is correct, then the silver buttonwood bush, Conocarpus erectus, would be a new host plant for the caterpillar which feeds on members of the genus Ficus, the figs. Bill Oehlke may also request permission to post your interesting color variation on his own website.

Thank you, so much, for following up with me. I have several silver buttonwoods, and I have poured over all of them looking for more caterpillars, but this guy seems to be it. One of our neighbors has a fig tree, which may be worth mentioning. I don’t know if it translated in the photos, but the darker shade on the caterpillar’s back is purplish. Quite lovely!
Again, thank you.
Donna Peters

October 16, 2008
Daniel,
Here is reply I sent to Donna regarding “Pachylia ficus”
I am going to ask Jim Tuttle for his opinion. I wil get back to you and to Donna if I get an id from Jim

Hi Donna,
I am pretty sure the larvae are of one of the Erinnyis species, probably Erinnyis ello, possibly Erinnyis alope. I wil try for a second opinion and get back to you.
I am almost positive they are not Pachylia ficus.
Bill Oehlke

Daniel,
Jim Tuttle has confirmed the larvae are Erinnyis ello.
Bill Oehlke

Update: 11 November 2008
Hi Bill,
The caterpillar you identified for me as Erinnyis ello emerged today and was released this evening. I have attached a photo. It vibrated it’s wings on the potted plant for about 5 minutes, then flew away over the house. My 7 year old son loved it. Thanks again! :)
Donna Peters

Ello Sphinx

Ello Sphinx

Hi Donna,
Thanks for updating us on the emergence of your adult Ello Sphinx.

Posted 12 October 2008 § Hornworms § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Fig Sphinx

Is this a sphinx moth?
Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 5:19 PM
Found this beautiful moth resting underneath an orchid basket in my South Florida backyard. (Lake Worth) Its about 3-4 inches long.
It has a very long snout.
Julie
Lake Worth Florida

Fig Sphinx

Fig Sphinx

Hi Julie,
This is a Fig Sphinx, Pachylia ficus.  The larval food plants are in the genus Ficus, the figs, and the caterpillar has at least four distinct color morphs.

Posted 11 October 2008 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Sallow Moth

possible sallow moth?
Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Hi,
I found this pretty green moth inside a building on a green textured wall that was almost the same color as the moth. The closest thing I have seen to it on your site was the Deceptive Sallow Moth, except mine has brown patches on it. Can you please tell me what it is?
My 9 year old son and I love this site! We’ve identified several bugs already using it. Yesterday he found a female dung beetle and we used your site to confirm the ID (somehow he guessed correctly what it was before we checked your site). Is a dung beetle the same as a rhinoceros beetle?
He also captured a margined blister beetle (also ID-ed on your site) and carried it home bared handed from the bus stop - without getting blistered! Imagine our surprise when we realized what he’d captured without the bad side effects.
Erika Atkinson
Savannah, Georgia

Sallow Moth

Sallow Moth

Hi Erika,
Thank you for your kind and sweet letter.  Your moth is definitely a Sallow Moth, but we are not certain which of the five species in the genus Feralia posted to BugGuide is the likeliest candidate.

Posted 11 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mexican Tiger Moth

what kind of moth is this?
Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Hi,
I was walking up stairs to my apartment, and I noticed this beautiful moth in front of my doorstep. I have lived in southern California all my life and have been living in the desert city of Lancaster for about a year, and I have never seen a moth like this. It’s about an inch long and has a black abdomen with red stripe going down along the dorsal surface and a white stripe on the underbelly. Can you help me out?
Thank you, Allyson
Lancaster, CA

Mexican Tiger Moth

Mexican Tiger Moth

Hi Allyson,
We believe this is a Mexican Tiger Moth, Notarctia proxima.  Several of the images on BugGuide show the pretty red underwings.

Posted 07 October 2008 § Tiger Moths and Arctiids ‡ Comments (0) °

Indian Meal Moth

1/4″ Fly / Moth / Roach looking bug. What is this??
Sun, Oct 5, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Hello Bugman!
I’ve had a few of these interesting yet annoying bugs flying around my house lately and I’ve been unable to find anything resembling it online.. It appears to have antenna folded along it’s wings and is approxamately 1/4″ long. Luckly it had no problem staying in one position for an hour while I attempted to capture some decent pics of it.. I am located in southeast Georgia in the little town of Ludowici, 45 minutes south of Savannah. Thanks for helping me put a name with this face!
Tom Goss
Ludowici, GA 31316 Southeast Georgia

Indian Meal Moth

Indian Meal Moth

Hi Tom,
This is an Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella, which probably means you have an infestation of caterpillars in some stored grain product in your pantry.  Check the oatmeal box or corn meal for the caterpillars and check BugGuide for more information.

Posted 07 October 2008 § Pantry Moths, Clothes Moths, Case-Bearers and Meal Moths ‡ Comments (3) ° Tagged:

Unknown MicroLepidoptera from Australia is Identified

Horned Micro Moth for ID
Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Hi Guys,
came across this little guy in my garden this morning and was taken by the stunning iridescence in the brown scales and the two little horns. The yellow section also fluoresces in the sunlight and was hard to photograph without flaring. It is about 1 cm long and only about 1 to 1.5mm cross section. It is seen here sitting on the leaf of a cucumber vine. No idea what the ID might be so hopefully someone can help.
aussietrev
Burnett Region, Queensland AU

Australian Microlepidopteran

Australian Microlepidopteran

Hi Trevor,
We usually can’t even identify the Microlepidoptera we receive from the U.S., but perhaps someone will write in with an identification for your lovely Australian specimen.

October 7, 2008
Hi Daniel - What a great new site. Congratulations!
Re: Microlepidoptera from Australia
I am wondering if the microlepidoptera is a Micropterigidae. “A Guide to Australian Moths by Zborowski and Edwards describes them as “tiny, hairy head, short thickened antennae held up and out, shining colours, wings held steeply roof-wise.” They are “very small, shining in gold and blackish purple and are found in moist places, usually rainforest.” They are active during the day, preferring shade or dappled sunlight. Sabatinca sterops is very small and golden in colour and is found in Northern Queensland, which I think is where Trev lives? Unfortunately the book has no photograph of Sabtinca sterops.
Hope this helps,
Grev

Update: October 8, 2008
Micromoth ID
Hi guys,
after several inquiries to moth men here in Australia the ID is most possibly XYLORYCTIDAE Telecrates melanochrysa. Several images can be found at http://www.ento.csiro.au/gallery/moths/Telecratesmelanochrysa/telecrates_melanochrysa_02
Thanks Grev for your research. The two little horns turn out to be labial paps. Possibly not easily spotted in the photo is the fact that the antennae are lying back along the body curving down to the leaf just before the second brown band.
Trevor

Posted 07 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Pink Spotted Flower Moth

Pink and Yellow Moth With Bright Green Eyes
Hi Bugman–
I took a picture of this moth a few weeks ago…. It’s the size of Miller Moth, resembles a Goldenrod Stowaway (sat like it, had a tuft on it’s head…but the wrong color). I don’t believe it to be a Rosy Maple Moth, as it’s head was pink and it has very green eyes and a more speckled look. I’ve compared it as well to a Pink Prominent and Primrose Moth, but each had different characteristics unlike this little beauty. We are stumped!!! We live in extreme SE Colorado, and was wondering if you could identify?
Thanks,
The Davis Family

Pink Spotted Flower Moth

Pink Spotted Flower Moth

Dear Davis Family,
This one proved to be quite a challenge for us. After doing much searching, we stumbled upon the Pink Spotted Flower Moth, Erythroecia suavis, on the Moth Photographers Group website. Interestingly, BugGuide has a link on the Primrose Moth page, that leads to a Moths of North Dakota page on the Pink Spotted Flower Moth. There isn’t much information, but we are relatively certain we have identified your moth. We have not been able to locate a photo of a living moth online, as all the images associated with our links are mounted specimens from collections. Your photos on our site may be the only photos of a living Pink Spotted Flower Moth posted online. Thanks so much for the contribution to our archives.

Pink Spotted Flower Moth

Pink Spotted Flower Moth

Hi Bugman,
Thank you so much for the ID.  That is definitely our moth!  I am so excited to know our posting is so unique.  Thank you for the time it took to identify this moth, and thank you for such an incredible site.
Sincerely,
The Davis Family

Posted 04 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Underwing Moth from Philippines

Philippine Moth
30 September, 2008
Hello Bugman,
I didn’t realize how beautiful these creatures are until my daughter’s boyfriend brought in a moth perched on our porch stool. He initially thought they were dried leaves. When the moth took flight, it displayed a spectacular fuschia color on the back of its wings and silver stripes on the underside of the wings. I wanted to keep it but it was agitated in the aquarium so I let it go… Its about 3ins in length. Our country, Philippines, is tropic but our city is located in the highlands so it can get quite cold.
AFPh
Baguio City, Philippines

Underwing Moth from Philippines

Underwing Moth from Philippines

Hi AFPh,
We were obsessed with trying to identify your moth and with our limited free time, it took us a few days to prepare this posting, so the posting date differs from the submission date. We were certain it was one of the Noctuid Moths in the subfamily Catocalinae. Eventually our search led us to a Noctuid Moths of Thailand page with an image of Phyllodes eyndhovii on page 2. A further web search brought us to a Moths of Borneo page, and a photo of Phyllodes verhuelli. We are satisfied that we probably have the correct genus. One page on the Borneo site even has drawings of this species’ genitalia in the event you want to compare your specimen. Often examination of the genitalia is the only definite way to distinguish some species from others in the butterflies and moths.

Thank you so much for your time. You have just helped me become a bug addict . We are discovering new species that haven’t been seen in our area for decades or are just now being seen.  I’m thinking climate changes may be a contributing factor to this.
Thanks again.

Posted 03 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °