Flight of the Black Witches (and other early June moth sightings)

Well, it's gotten interesting the past few days.  Just a couple of days ago, while visiting the wonderful BugGuide site, I noticed an entry that a Black Witch moth (Ascalapha odorata, #8649) was seen in Houston.  I was very surprised, because I didn't think they came through the area.  The entry was just the day before, so it got me thinking they might be seen in the area.  Lo and behold, just a few minutes later, I stepped outside, and there was one just below an overhang.  Very large indeed, and very beautiful.  The picture below really doesn't do it justice.

These very large moths - rated at 5 to 6" wingspans - apparently fly up from Mexico, starting in June.  The next day I saw other one, just about 2 miles away.  It looked a bit like a bird at first.  Based on the markings, both were females.

Another large moth recently seen was a Walnut Sphinx (male).  It was sitting on a willow tree, and a wasp came up to it and sort of harassed it.  The moth flew to the grass, where I got a picture of it:

Other moths seen for the first half of June include the following:

3218 - Sonia constrictiana (Constricted Sonia Moth) *
5156 - Nomophila nearctica (Lucerne Moth)
5218 - Palpita quadristigmalis (Four-Spotted Palpita Moth)
6326 - Macaria aemulataria (Common Angle Moth)
7173 - Leptostales pannaria (Pannaria Wave Moth)
8739 - Caenurgina erechtea (Forage Looper Moth) *
9669 - Spodoptera ornithgalli (Yellow-Striped Armyworm Moth)
9688 - Galgula partita (The Wedgeling)
10915 - Peridroma saucia (Pearly Underwing)
Also:
             Plume moth currently trying to identify
             Gelechiid moth currently trying to identify

And then those that got away...

Moths Seen in Late May

Less moths were seen in the last two weeks of May than were in the first two.  Nevertheless, some interesting ones came by, including some new ones to me*

#0383 - Texas Grass Tubeworm Moth*
#4992 - Genista Broom Moth
#5156 - Lucerne Moth
#5169 - Spotted Beet Webworm Moth
#5218 - Four-Spotted Palpita Moth
#5288 - Trapeze Moth*
#6586 - Brown-Shaded Gray Moth
#7136 - Packard's Wave
#74xx - Epithecia ....
#7784 - Pawpaw Sphinx Moth
#8366 - Smoky Tenanolita*
#8534 - Moonseed Moth*
#8801 - Ilia Underwing
#8890 - Soybean Looper
#9670 - Velvet Armyworm Moth

Featured Moth #1

Nigrita Bagworm Moth (Cryptothelea nigrita)

Hodges #441

Family: Psychidae

This obscure moth is rarely seen, spending much of its time inside a bag cocoon.  As such, it is a member of the Psychidae family of bagworm moths.

I noticed numerous hanging bags on a boxwood plant in April, here in the Houston area.  I decided to investigate by placing one inside a jar with holes for air.  Before long, the black moth with fuzzy antennae emerged.  After getting pictures, I released it.  The moth spiraled upward towards the sky.  I've never seen a moth fly in that manner.

Sightings in the first half of May 2012

3688 Garden Tortrix (Clepsis peritna)

4992 Genista Broom Moth (Uresiphita reversalis)
5156 Lucerne Moth (Nomophila nearctica) 

5218 Four-Spotted Palpita Moth (Palpita quadristigmalis) 

5464 Snowy Urola Moth (Urola nivalis) 

6586 Brown-Shaded Gray Moth (Iridopsis defectaria) 

8601 Cellar Melipotis moth (Melipotis cellaris) 

8801 Ilia Underwing (Catocala ilia) 

8887 Cabbage Looper Moth (Trichoplusia ni) 

8907 Bilobed Looper Moth (Megalographa biloba) 

9246 Clear Dagger Moth (Acronicta clarescens) 

9669 Yellow-Striped Armyworm Moth (Spodoptera ornithogalli) 

9670 Velvet Armyworm Moth (Spodoptera latifascia) 

9688 The Wedgeling (Galgula partita) 

10911 Green Cutworm Moth (Anicla infecta) 


Also very likely: 371, 5288

Beginnings

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