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Ascalapha odorata
The Black Witch is not considered an agricultural pest as its large smooth gray caterpillars feed on woody Legumes such as Acacia, Cassia, Ebony and Mesquite. Sala (1959) lists Acacia dealbata as the principle foodplant in California. Roy O. Kendall reared series of the moths "ex ovo" on Pithecellobium flexicaule (now: Ebenopsis ebano) and from Acacia rigidula. Most of its documented caterpillar food plants listed below are members of the Legume family native to the southwestern United States, which corresponds to the moth's abundance there. http://www.texasento.net/witch.htm
Spotted on Jun 16, 2012
Submitted on Jun 17, 2012
