Black Witch Moth Ascalapha odorata (Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: Hodges #8649.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Erebidae   >   Genus Ascalapha   

Status:

The mysterious and impressive vagrant Black Witch is one of the largest of all North American moths. It is typically found in Mexico and south into Central and South America but can be also found in the United States along the border with Mexico. During the late summer and early fall the Black Witch may stage irruptive migrations north. During these movements, Black Witch Moths may turn up anywhere in the United States. There are Black Witch records for almost every state and Canadian province including Labrador and Newfoundland!

There are 25 records in the project database.

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A Black Witch Moth in Talbot Co., Maryland (7/2/2020). Found by Scott Housten and Jessica Morgan. Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Black Witch Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (9/4/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Black Witch Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/3/2019). First Eastern Shore record for MBP found by Scott Housten. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/10/2022). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/21/2021). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in Charles Co., Maryland (10/4/2023). Determined by Bob Biagi and L. Wayne Thompson/BugGuide. Photo by Julie Simpson. (MBP list)

A Black Witch Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/25/2016). Photo by Melissa McCeney. (MBP list)

A Black Witch Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/29/2016). Photo by Cretora Kline. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in Talbot Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) jared satchell, all rights reserved. Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/7/2021). (c) botanygirl, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by botanygirl via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in Cecil Co., Maryland (10/7/2023). (c) acarologista, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by acarologista via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/10/2022). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Black Witch Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/3/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)


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