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Black Witch Moth

Ascalapha odorata

Description:

Ascalapha odorata is a large bat-shaped, dark-colored nocturnal moth. Males can attain a wingspan of 16 cm. The dorsal surfaces of their wings are mottled brown with hints of iridescent purple and pink, and, in females, crossed by a white bar. [Males lack this bar.] The diagnostic marking is a small spot on each wing shaped like a number nine or a comma. This spot is often green with orange highlights. Females are somewhat smaller, reaching 12 cm in width, and lighter in color. The larva is a large caterpillar up to 7 cm in length with intricate patterns of black and greenish brown spots and stripes.

Habitat:

The black witch moth is found throughout Central America and Mexico, with its distribution extending from Brazil to the southern United States.

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3 Comments

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 13 years ago

welcome..!!

MauricioGamboa
MauricioGamboa 13 years ago

Thanks Ashish, I just updated it.

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 13 years ago

Can be Black witch moth(Ascalapha odorata)

magalocr
Spotted by
magalocr

San José, Heredia, Costa Rica

Spotted on Jul 6, 2011
Submitted on Jul 6, 2011

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Reference

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