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 73 - 96 of 970 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Oct 28, 2022
Submitted by: mfernandabarraza
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Jan 06, 2021
Submitted by: Mainah24
Region: St. Thomas
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 31, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2016
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 31, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2017
Submitted by: BYoung1441
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 09, 2017
Submitted by: bbwtoo
Region: Barbados
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2016
Submitted by: frostywalters
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2023
Observation date: Jan 12, 2021
Submitted by: metama
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: May 15, 2022
Submitted by: jnchandler
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Dec 20, 2015
Submitted by: cbruner
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Jan 02, 2022
Submitted by: tomdif
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Nov 12, 2018
Submitted by: andjelio
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2013
Submitted by: DDethlef
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Dec 23, 2022
Observation date: Jan 25, 2017
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 15, 2022
Observation date: Oct 31, 2022
Submitted by: ray_ennis22@hot...
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Aug 08, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Sep 29, 2016
Submitted by: shakespearenut
Region: Hidalgo, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Oct 20, 2021
Submitted by: Chris Obers
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 17, 2021
Submitted by: mexicanradio
Region: Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Capitan Chorizo
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
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