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Black Witch Moths

(@the-oldtart)
Posts: 6523
Illustrious Member
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A lepidopterist's delight? I've never seen one either here or anywhere else before and was stymied when, in the last 24 hours, one of my cats brought in two of them, one last night and one this morning. With a wing span of over 4" they're quite a sight to see but research paid off! Seems they like very ripe fruit so with the kidney mangoes dropping all over the place here where I am on the north side of STT, it's feasting time! They're very dark brown/black with beautiful markings and apparently are often mistaken for bats when flitting around at night. It's always exciting to find some hitherto-unseen species here so just wanted to give a heads-up to anyone else who sees them and wonders what they are.

And, yes, I managed to rescue both by popping a LARGE plastic cup over them, sliding a pice of thin cardboard underneath it and releasing them outside where they flew away apparently none the worse for wear but hopefully a bit cautious now about curious furries.

 
Posted : July 8, 2012 6:41 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8871
Illustrious Member
 

glad the cats didn't eat them.
i saw a very pretty orange spider today. have never seen an orange one before.

 
Posted : July 8, 2012 6:43 pm
(@dougtamjj)
Posts: 2596
Famed Member
 

Tart, I found one in my shower a couple of years ago. I thought it was a bat.

 
Posted : July 8, 2012 7:16 pm
(@cheryl96s)
Posts: 457
Reputable Member
 

We have had those moths as well on the Northside of STT. We thought they were bats at first as well. Our cats however were not as forgiving as Old Tart's ...

 
Posted : July 15, 2012 5:52 pm
(@the-oldtart)
Posts: 6523
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Our cats however were not as forgiving as Old Tart's ...

I think they're more into playing. 😀 I still don't know which one brought in a full grown ground dove today. Now THAT was a melee for true! Threw three cats outside, the dove went into a cramped nook so I couldn't get to it, finally managed to gently nudge it into a lidded box with a broom handle, brought the cats back in, went outside with the dove-in-a-box, gently tipped it out and - thank goodness - it flew away unharmed. It's a toss-up as to whose heart was beating faster! Ten in the morning was NOT too early for a drink!

 
Posted : July 15, 2012 7:28 pm
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