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:
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 965 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: DJojola1
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: AmyLewis
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: akadrgadget
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: kmilliorn
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: libweb
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: MattK
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: pinon11
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 26, 2021
Submitted by: AK40Sowka
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2018
Submitted by: Arley
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: Adam Plevyak
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Aug 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2023
Submitted by: Lindalee00
Region: Texas, Wise County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: Myersa78
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 30, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: sballard9
Region: Randolph County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: d_lowery77
Region: Morrill County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 28, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2017
Submitted by: SiberianSiren5
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2023
Submitted by: AllieB
Region: Seneca County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Schoenberg
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: jdhulse0606
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 10, 2023
Submitted by: Potts
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
Observation date: Dec 05, 2019
Submitted by: clayton222
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Sep 08, 2022
Submitted by: Logan Miederhoff
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: May 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: Roy Michelotti
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 07, 2023
Observation date: Oct 18, 2022
Submitted by: sawah or something
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 16, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: jason.sosebee
Region: Guantanamo, Cuba
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
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