Subject:  Moth on Maya Beach
Geographic location of the bug:  Belize Ocean Club Resort, Maya Beach, Stann Creek, Belize
Date: 02/08/2019
Time: 02:01 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found this large moth on the dock.
How you want your letter signed:  Brent

Black Witch

Dear Brent,
This is just about the most detailed image of a female tropical Black Witch that we have ever posted to our site.  These large moths are capable of flying great distances, sometimes 1000s of miles, even reaching Canada.

Detail of the wing of a Black Witch

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Subject:  Huge moth
Geographic location of the bug:  Fort Collins, CO
Date: 07/12/2018
Time: 03:56 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Saw this last night putting out the dog around 1:30 am.  Never seen one that big ever.  Black Witch??
How you want your letter signed:  Mark

Black Witch

Dear Mark,
This is indeed a male Black Witch.  According to BugGuide:  “The northward June migration out of Mexico coincides with Mexico’s rainy season which typically starts in early June and lasts through October.”

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Subject:  Big brown winged bug
Geographic location of the bug:  Pearland, TX
Date: 09/13/2017
Time: 05:02 PM EDT
Wow–big wing span spread on my screened window.
How you want your letter signed:  Anyway you want to.

Black Witch

This is a very worn Black Witch Moth, a species that often flies North from Mexico each year.  Some individuals have been reported as far north as Canada.

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Subject: Large dark moth
Location: Deerhorn Valley Jamul Ca
July 28, 2017 7:36 pm
Look at this beast! We live in eastern Dan Diego County in oak woodland/chaparral. This beauty was found by my daughter right outside our door. If it were on an oak tree I’m sure I would have missed it entirely.
Signature: Nira

Male Black Witch Moth

Dear Nira,
This impressive creature is a male Black Witch Moth, a species found in Mexico.  For some unexplained reason, monsoon season in Mexico causes large numbers of Black Witch Moths to fly north, and individuals have bee reported as far north as Canada.

Thank you so very much! I have now looked it up and see that folk lore says I will win the lottery or die. Hmmm. I choose the lottery. I will let you know if fortune or disaster comes my way 😉 Either way it is fun to know what it is. Thank you again!
Nira

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Subject: Black witch?
Location: Casper, Wyoming
July 14, 2017 12:13 am
Found this next to my front door, it looks s a black witch moth?
Signature: Thank you, Stacy

Male Black Witch

Dear Stacy,
This is indeed a male Black Witch moth.  This is a neotropical species that breeds as far north as Mexico, but for some inexplicable reason, Black Witch Moths have been reported as far back as the 19th Century to fly north as far as Canada.  The damaged upper left wing causes us to fantasize that your individual might be this very Black Witch, reported from Denver on June 27, that just reached Wyoming.

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Subject: Was this a black witch?
Location: Southeast Denver, Colorado
June 27, 2017 8:12 pm
Dear Bugman,
I saw this fly across my backyard today in broad daylight (I thought it was a bird flying a little bit wacky), and then it somehow found its way into my garage. Its wingspan was easily over 6 inches and it was very dark, almost black. I think it was a male black witch because I could see eye-like patterns at the top of its wings and swirly patterns at the base of its wings. It finally flew out of the garage a couple hours later, thank goodness- I didn’t want this majestic creature to meet its end in a dumb garage!
What do you think?
Signature: Cindy F

Male Black Witch

Hi Cindy,
You are correct that this is a male Black Witch.  They often seek out protected areas in which to rest, and your garage worked nicely.

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