Black witch moths are dramatic creatures, feared in some cultures, celebrated in others.
Female Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata) Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii This is quite possibly the largest moth I have ever seen. I saw it at rest on a window screen. First I photographed it, then I attempted to measure it. Good thing I took the picture first, because as soon as I touched the screen with my ruler, the moth spooked and flew off, weaving all around the garden until it found a place to hide high up in the foliage of one of our Monkeypod trees. Let's just say its wingspan was approximately six inches across (about 15 cm). It is a female Black Witch moth (Ascalapha odorata). The male of the species does not have that pretty white scalloped stripe on the wings. And just look at the wonderful iridescent colors on the wings. You can learn about this unusual moth by visiting The Black Witch Moth: Its Natural and Cultural History on the Texas Entomology web site. Apparently these migratory insects are prevalent in northern Mexico and parts of Texas. We see them infrequently here in Hawaii.
Moth on black
Ascalapha Odorata(Black Witch) -Female(form-2) -Mexico -(5 in wingspan). This moth is found from southern United States to Brazil and in many cultures it is thought to be an omen of death much like the Death's-Head Hawkmoth. I have seen a lot of these moths in person and they do vary quite a bit. However, in my opinion, unless you like blah charcoal brown, the Females are much more interesting than the Males. Males are smaller and darker brown and sometimes show iridescent blue markings. Females are larger(up to 9 inch wingspan) and lighter brown and have a white rippled bar across the wings. However, this white rippled bar can have purple and pink hilites. Furthermore, the Females being lighter often show intricate brown markings including some iridescent blue markings as in this particular specimen.
from Ecuador: www.flickr.com/andreaskay/albums
The noctuid moth Ascalapha odorata bears the common name “Black Witch”. It is considered an omen of death in Mexican and Caribbean folklore. In Mexico, it is known as “Mariposa de la muerte”.
Black Witch Moth Watercolor Original Painting “Battered” -original painting -high quality pigments -on 300lb watercolor paper 5 1/2” x 8 1/4” -image measures about 3 1/2” x 6 1/4” -signed and dated by the artist -unframed This item will ship one to two business days after payment is complete. You can follow this link to my policies page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/carriegarrott/policy for a current estimated turnaround time, shipping options, return/exchange policy, and more.
Playa Larga.
Moths from Brazil from www.sharpphotography.co.uk, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Black witch moths are dramatic creatures, feared in some cultures, celebrated in others.
Black Witch Moth by Bruce Sorrell Via Flickr: * Or as Inspector Clouseau would say, a very large "Meuth" : )) I'll admit to knowing very little about moths, so if I have misnamed this one,...
Artist Sarah Gillespie’s prints of moths represent the culmination of an 18 months-long project designed to attract attention to the plight of the insect, whose numbers have dropped 60-70% since the 1970s, but whose survival is vital for numerous bird populations. Gillespie’s mezzotints and silverpoint drawings are exhibited at Kestle Barton in Cornwall, a venue that boasts more than 60 species of moths in its gardens, 12 September to 31 October.
Are black moths really harmful? Separate fact from fiction with our myth-busting insights. Know the truth now.
Black witch moth ( Ascalapha odorata ), Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Ecuador. In Jamaica, Mexico and many other countries, it is believed to be the harbinder of death and bad luck. It is also called "duppy bat" in the Caribbean. Бабочка "черная ведьма". Во многих странах с ней связаны такие же…
