This very large hawkmoth was drawn to the lights of the house and before we knew it was inside. We got him back out, but he was exhausted - I got this pic while he rested on my rain poncho which was drying on the back porch.
Can anyone tell me who he is?
Onalee
That pattern looks like something from one of them ink blot tests. Won't say what I saw. Don't want anyone to know how disturbed I am!
Onalee-
I don't know what it is, but it is pretty. Hard to tell its size, but what a neat pattern!
Imway2dumb-It really does look like an ink blot test! lol...funny...
-seedpicker_TX
Onalee that's a great moth! And he posed to nicely for you :-)
John, Ink blot test for sure! To me it looks like an unhappy face with acne ;-).
-Julie
He was BIG - I'd say 3" from wing tip to wing tip!
Ink blot tests are a little scary on a public forum ;-)
Onalee
Time for our id'ers to check this thread!!!
Nice picture, it's an Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis)
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/fl/mor974.htm
There ya' go. Thanks!
Now I think it looks like one of the "South Park" characters! lol...
Three inches is pretty big for a moth. Lucky you! I've never seen that particular one...
-seedpicker_TX
Very cool! Thanks, Panamoncreel!
I guess I won't need to plant anything special for his caterpillar to eat - looks like they eat about any tree. I had never seen one of these before either - had a pink spotted hawk moth and a 5 spotted hawkmoth so far that I've got pictures of feeding on my four o'clocks in the evenings - this is a new one!
Thanks so much for your help and I hope no one has made any disturbirbing diagnosis based on their ink spot test!
Onalee
There are a couple that need help I think.
John--you are such a mess!
Onalee, what a cool creature, you are so lucky to get her as a houseguest.
Worm, you will need to join our therapy group, as well!
I do feel lucky - but sorry he got stressed out - - he definately was not happy in the house! Glad we were able to get him back out without too much difficulty!
Onalee
They are quite common here...I get quite a few every summer.
They vary in size from just about 2 1/2 inches to well over 5 inches.
That's neat melody - I had never seen one before that one - or since!
