Friday, July 11, 2008

Eumorpha Fasciata: International Moth of Mystery!

So, I saw this unusual-looking moth hanging out on my back porch last Thursday, and finally, I think I've ID'd it: Lesser Vine Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha fasciata.


While I've managed to match a name to my picture, I still haven't been able to find out what they eat or anything else about it, other than that they live in the southern U.S.

This exciting lepidoptera sighting was followed by an enthusiastic debate over whether this moth was designed by Lothlorien elves or the U.S. Air Force.  We're both hip and sophisticated, over here at my house.

6 comments:

Annie in Austin said...

Sphinx moths are so cool, Lori - and that's an amazing one.

Your moth name led me to Bugguide which led me to a Host Plants Site that says various Ludwigia species [related to evening primroses] are host plants. I don't really know what this means, but dang, the internet is fun.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Diana said...

Wow. That's really something to behold. I get so excited to find new friends in the garden and then actually identify them, don't you? And you're good at IDing things. Glad you got some rain, we did, too. It's raining here in Germany right now and supposed to be 50 and 80 percent chance of rain tomorrow when we climb up a mountain. I gotta keep reminding myself about what 102 feels like!

Lori said...

Annie - I checked out some of those primroses from the Host Plants site, and I don't think I've seen any of them down here. I wonder what it's eating? One of my friends is into moths, so I dropped her a line and hopefully she'll know more. I'd like to be able to plant what it eats to attract more.

Diana - It was cool! I'd never seen a moth so huge or with such unsubtle markings. Also, I envy you getting to visit Deutschland! Eat some of that amazing German chocolate for me! And I'm crossing my fingers that you guys make it through your hike without getting soaked.

cheap viagra said...

wow that bug looks disgusting... thanks for not share haha

Unknown said...

I just found this at my house here in Mattawan, Michigan. I sm sharing the photo with my FB friends.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I just found a dead one in my office in Bastrop and my brother said he had killed it because it frightened him. Poor thing. Its so beautiful.