Subject: Unknown moth of some sort?
Location: Birmingham, AL
June 26, 2012 12:37 pm
My husband came across this bug at his place of work, which is in Birmingham, AL. Never seen one like it before. It didn’t move or fly away while he took a picture, so not sure of specifics outside of how it looks. I’m guessing it’s some sort of moth, but it’s so strange-looking, I’d love to know more about it.
Signature: Jennifer Quakenbuh
Hi Jennifer,
This beautiful moth is known as the Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth. The caterpillar is the fierce looking but harmless Hickory Horned Devil. Each year in late June and July, we get reports of the adult moth and the caterpillar sightings seem to peak in September. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of walnut, hickory and other trees, including ash, burning bush, butternut, cotton, gum, lilac, pecan, persimmon, sumac and sycamore according to BugGuide. Adults do not feed.
I found one today on the sidewalk near my flower garden – Middle Tennessee; city of Lebanon. I have photos and a few measurements – it is huge!
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Found a beautiful walnut moth here, in Dayton Virginia, today: 7/2022
Took photos