Moth with a “monkey on his back”
Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Moth with a “monkey on his back”
Dear WTB,
This moth was hanging out on a birdhouse on our porch this summer. We live in Hagerstown, MD- between PA and WV. My son called out that it looked like it had a monkey face on its back- maybe a defense mechanism? Thought you might like to see it! Love your site!!
ABX Moser
The panhandle and valley of Western MD
Dear ABX Moser,
Your Sphinx Moth is a Pink Spotted Hawkmoth, Agrius cingulata which you can read more about on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website. If it had opened its wings, you would see the distinctive pink spotting on the abdomen and the pink stripes on the hind wings.