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 97 - 120 of 965 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 21, 2015
Submitted by: mbaynes
Region: Guanajuato, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2008
Submitted by: L.Hale
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: Randomrover88
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Oct 03, 2022
Submitted by: sctimm
Region: Michoacán, Mexico
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 13, 2021
Submitted by: calidris
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2016
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: Nick Pulcinella
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: Rjsegal
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Sep 22, 2022
Submitted by: Don MacNeill
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 20, 2022
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2018
Submitted by: monarch330
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2018
Submitted by: trehawke
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: MermaidoftheSea
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2016
Submitted by: Chris Barnhart
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2017
Submitted by: AMOldaker
Region: Webster County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 14, 2022
Submitted by: LdyKaos63
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2018
Submitted by: Workinglaurie
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 13, 2018
Submitted by: Karrion
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 27, 2022
Submitted by: Lmilberg
Region: Cole County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Mblackburn
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: ksharum
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: Pinkpoodle626
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
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