Black Witch
Ascalapha odorata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Erebinae
Identification: Easily recognized by its large size and pointed forewing, which is blackish to brownish with typical noctuid pattern of lines and spots. Note large oval patch at outer margin, containing 2 rounded spots. Pinkish white bands beyond postmedial lines of forewing and hindwing in females, absent in males.
Wing Span: 11 - 15 cm.
Life History:
Flight:
Caterpillar Hosts: Cassia and catclaw.
Adult Food: Tree sap, overripe fruit.
Habitat:
Range: Tropical; regularly present in S. Florida and S. Texas in all months. Individuals migrate northward as far as Newfoundland and Minnesota, usually between July and October. Found northward more often than the Owl Moth (Thysania zenobia).
Conservation:
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs:
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 965 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 27, 2024
Submitted by: mountainairdispatch
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 27, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: Greg Sievert
Region: Lyon County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 11, 2024
Observation date: Sep 02, 2024
Submitted by: pigletme
Region: Idaho County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: NickiP
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: tericshea
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: LoriannMM
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: 82BeaMeR
Region: Nowata County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 23, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Kauai County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 25, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Rbarret
Region: Brown County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Aug 25, 2024
Observation date: Aug 23, 2024
Submitted by: JohnE
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: Sula Waite
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Marion County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 07, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: P.W. Boyd
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: KarenLynn
Region: St. Clair County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: Robyn Culpepper
Region: Perquimans County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 03, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: KariZee
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: cjb_willard
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: Lorilake
Region: Morrill County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 24, 2024
Observation date: Jul 22, 2024
Submitted by: Nursecarter22
Region: Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: MelanieGaddy
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2024
Submitted by: groehm
Region: Van Wert County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 10, 2024
Submitted by: rmbarker44
Region: Texas, Matagorda County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 09, 2024
Submitted by: Nancee Cobb
Region: Bay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: Hwessling
Region: Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
- 1 of 41
- next ›