About Ascalapha odorata (Linnaeus, 1758)
This species is Ascalapha odorata, also commonly known as the black witch. Females of this moth species can reach a wingspan of 24 cm. The dorsal surfaces of their wings are mottled brown with faint iridescent purple and pink tones, and females have a distinct white bar crossing the wings. A key diagnostic marking for this species is a small spot on each forewing, shaped like the number nine or a comma. This spot is typically green with orange highlights. Males are somewhat smaller than females, reaching a wingspan of 12 cm, are darker in overall color, and do not have the white bar that crosses female wings. The larval stage is a large caterpillar that can grow up to 7 cm in length, with intricate patterns of black and greenish-brown spots and stripes. The black witch's native geographical range extends from the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America south to Brazil, and even reaches Argentina. This moth has also apparently been introduced to Hawaii. Black witch moths fly northward during late spring and summer. One individual was captured during an owl banding project at the Whitefish Point lighthouse on the shore of Lake Superior in July 2020.
