A moth that is big

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

OK im a kid and i was outside and this HUGE,Gargantuan whatever you want to call something big i live in TN so this is a big moth i havent had a chance to measure it cause its stressed about being caught but maybe someone could tell me what kind it is its brown with black spots (like a grey dalmation)under its arms like its armpits are red and its abdomen is the same color is the same as the rest of its body except if its abdomen goes to the left or right its red underneath the skin at the fold now remember i live in Tennessee and this is really unusual for here and id say its roughly 2 or 3 inches long and its wingspan is 4 or 5 inches please help b'fore it dies

P.S. what do moths eat?!?!?!?!?!?!

-- David Hill (Dahill2002@yahoo.com), April 18, 2002

Answers

Hi, David. The closest match I can come up with is a Sweetheart Underwing moth. We live in NC and have seen these before. You can try an internet search and see if you could find a picture or maybe someone else will post a good insect website. I would STRONGLY suggest that you just let it go. Even if you got the exact food it eats it will most likely die in captivity. Take a picture of it and let it free...

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 18, 2002.

I'm in Nebraska, and I've also seen those huge moths at night, sometimes lured to a bug light I put out for my fish ponds. They are about the same color and are BIG. The fish love them.

-- bruce (niobrara55@hotmail.com), April 18, 2002.

Hi David, try this site: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/help/faq/bflymoth/idmoth.htm It sounds beautiful, I hope you let it go. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 18, 2002.

Maybe a prometheus moth? Don't know if you have them there, but we have them here in Oklahoma and it sounds kinda like that. Sounds beautiful and yes, take a picture and then let it go. Probably out and about trying to lay eggs.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), April 18, 2002.

If you find out what it is, David, I hope you'll post a picture and it's name for us. But do let it go. Good luck.

-- Eve (owenall@lwol.com), April 18, 2002.


Regarding the P.S., moths don't "eat". They don't have mouths per se. Their mouths are like their butterfly cousins in that they can only take in liquid during their short lives. As for identity of the species, if it were in Wisconsin, probably polyphemus or prometheus. Alas, both becoming more and more uncommon due to moths' suicidal attraction to bright lights.

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), April 18, 2002.

I was introduced to a big moth by my husband saying "Now, Laurean, Don't panic....." Is it just me, or would you have panicked? LOL

Anywya, sounds like a lunar moth to me. Big and harmless. :0)

-- Laurean (cranston_06010@yahoo.com), April 19, 2002.


Laurean, Lunas are even bigger than his discription and an unmistakeable pale green!..I still vote for release!

-- Bee White (bee@hereintown.net), April 19, 2002.

ok i put the moth outside in a cage a critter keeper to be correct it calmed down since i put it there its not stressed out and i planted some small plants and small flowers just to tell you so you would not worry about the little guy

-- David Hill Nickname:The Skedar Slayer (Dahill2002@yahoo.com), April 19, 2002.

People aren't asking you to let it go becaus eof it's stress (although that is a factor) but because there are fewer and fewer of them. If you don't let it go, it can't reproduce, and maybe your children will never see one! There lives are terribly short and may have only 2 or 3 days to breed, maybe a week. Maybe none if you keep it locked up.

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), April 22, 2002.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ