3 Surprising South American Moths l Our Breathing Planet

We hope that each of you, our readers, will enjoy and appreciate this article we present about these 3 Surprising South American Moths. It was certainly our pleasure to compile the information for you. May it provide you with both education and increased awareness.

These few species listed herein represent only a portion of the natural wonders found throughout the world, though. Yet, it’s our belief that they serve as excellent representations of the wonders found here. Check out some of our other articles for similar marvels.

White Witch Moth

White Witch Moth Facts

Heading up this compendium of 3 Surprising South American Moths is the beautiful creature known best as the White Witch Moth.
Perhaps most notably, the term applied here serves as the common name for one of the largest Lepidoptera in the world. The marvelous insect also goes by a somewhat less pronounceable scientific name. That’s the difficult term Thysania agrippina.
Regardless of which name one uses to refer to it, though, the invertebrate remains a truly incredible variety of moth. The respected Dutch entomologist Pieter Cramer, furthermore, became the first person to officially describe this marvelous invertebrate.
This fortuitous action occurred in the year 1776. Over the years, it has also acquired several alternate common names. These include such unique terms as the ghost moth, the great grey witch, the great owlet moth, and simply the white witch.
For the moment, the IUCN does not have a listing for the White Witch Moth on its Red List of Threatened Species. This occurs partly because of the relatively wide distribution of the insect. Many experts nonetheless consider it to presently be at risk.
That’s partly due to a significant reduction of its natural habitat. Sadly, that further holds true throughout the entirety of its range. It must also be considered to be at risk due to the effects of climate change, though. In that it mirrors many other creatures.

White Witch Moth, Thysania agrippina — Source: https://bit.ly/2RigsgH Photo: Acrocynus CCL: https://bit.ly/3e2FaLw

White Witch Moth Physical Description

The first thing the majority of individuals notice about the extraordinary White Witch Moth is its incredible beauty. That fact’s certainly understandable, of course. However, the lovely Lepidoptera also equally deserves attention for its extremely large size.

The fabulous arthropod also displays a very slight degree of the physiological trait known to science as sexual dimorphism. In its particular case, though, this characteristic displays itself in terms of a very small difference in overall physical appearance.

Its wings can reach a span of as much as 12 in (30 cm). Overall, the upper side of the wings of both genders displays a creamy white or light brown in color. Several black and brown lines further zigzag across the wings. The underneath, however, appears differently.

This part of the wings mainly shows a violet-black, along with white spots and markings. The males of the White Witch Moth, though, tend to have more patterns, as well as a white spot on the forewings. This minor difference is what visually distinguishes the genders.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Thysania
Species: T. agrippina

White Witch Moth Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Quite fortunately, the magnificent White Witch Moth inhabits relatively broad portion of the world, compared to most Lepidoptera. That partly holds true due to the fact that the arthropod occurs in a range that begins in southern Mexico, in North America.

Following that, however, its native territory expands dramatically. In fact, this extends through all of Central America. After that, it reaches all the way to the northern sections of the continent of South America. This remains among the greatest of ranges for a moth.

Quite unfortunately, entomologists do not know a great deal about some facets of the life of this insect. Some facts about its native habitat, however, have been noticed. For one, the marvelous creature appears to be quite adaptable to different habitats.

That’s because it has been seen in regions of rainforest, temperate forests, open grasslands, rural areas, and even within the confines of a city. One key factor about the ecology of the gorgeous and somewhat mysterious White Witch Moth does present itself, however.

That’s the fact that the caterpillar form predominantly feeds on the India-rubber tree. This occurs because that’s where the female lays her eggs. This has the effect of limiting the areas in which eggs are laid. The leaves of these plants the caterpillars consume voraciously.

Venezuelan Poodle Moth

Venezuelan Poodle Moth Facts

Next up in this article about these 3 Surprising South American Moths is one that’s shrouded in mystery, named the Venezuelan Poodle Moth.
Perhaps most notably, the astonishing invertebrate spoken of here currently still remains an almost complete mystery to entomologists. This incredibly unique and extremely mysterious looking insect first made an appearance in 2009.
The distinctive name derives from a comparison of its highly distinctive physical appearance. That’s because some individuals compare it to a cross between a moth and a poodle. This certainly makes for a striking image.
At this point in time, however, entomologists know virtually nothing about the amazing invertebrate. Some assumptions, though, can be presumed to be reasonably accurate. At this point, that’s all that researchers have to work with in its case.
The zoologist Arthur Anker photographed the bizarre looking Lepidoptera in 2009, while on an expedition. Dr. Anker also took a total of 75 photos of the extraordinary species. Sadly, though, only a few have been made available to view.
The dearth of reliable scientific data pertaining to this creature also makes formal classification of its complicated. At this point in time, therefore, many of those classifications applied to it remain tentative. It also does not yet have a species name.
Due to an almost total lack of information, the IUCN understandably has not listing for the Venezuelan Poodle Moth. Its precise status remains undetermined at this time. It nonetheless likely faces the same threats as other species, such as climate change.

Venezuelan Poodle Moth Physical Description

Likely most of all, the Venezuelan Poodle Moth remains a nearly complete mystery to scientists. Measurements derived from Dr. Anker’s photographs presently represent the only data researchers have to work with. These show the unique Lepidoptera to be a small insect.

More precisely, those pictures indicate that it possesses a length measuring about 1 in (2.5 cm). Its average wingspan, however, currently continues to be unknown. The few images of it available, though, perhaps provide a frame of reference for a rough idea of that.

In color, the astounding arthropod presents an overall combination of a light gray and off-white colors. The fur itself also warrants notice. That’s due to the distinctive, and most unusual, seemingly furry nature of this part of the insect’s physical appearance.

The remarkable Venezuelan Poodle Moth also presents extremely large eyes. These further show as a dark brown in color. The amazing invertebrate also manifests unusually large, as well as strangely shaped, antennae. These extend from above each eye.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Artace

Venezuelan Poodle Moth Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

To date, the only known examples of the Venezuelan Poodle Moth live in one highly specific part of the world. Like most other facts about it, this could potentially change. For now, though, it only appears in one known area of the country of Venezuela, in South America.

To be more precise, this marvel of Nature only inhabits the Canaima National Park. It’s at this point, however, that reliable data concerning the insect begins to become even more scarce. Much of what follows, therefore, remains hesitant supposition.

The region it’s been seen in includes many highly diverse habitat types. Any of these environments could conceivably support a population of this extraordinarily unique moth. These different habitats include moist forest and high rock plateaus known as tepuis.

While its precise classification remains undetermined, it does bear a strong resemblance to another species. That’s the insect known as the Muslin Moth. Due to this physical similarity between them, most experts currently place the creature in the Artace genus.

Quite unfortunately, subsequent expeditions to the region have yet to uncover any more of the amazing arthropods. This appears to indicate that the species is extremely rare. As a result, researchers still know nothing concerning such factors as its life cycle.

Black Witch Moth

Black Witch Moth Facts

Closing out this listing of 3 Surprising South American Moths comes the remarkable work of Nature named the Black Witch Moth.
This visually stunning Lepidoptera remains best known by the common name we’ve used herein. In other languages, though, it’s typically known by such other diverse terms as La Sorcière Noire, in French, and Mariposa de la Muerte, in Spanish.
Its official scientific name, however, remains that of the tongue-twisting Ascalapha odorata. By whichever term one chooses to refer to it, though, its stands apart from many of its related species. It further does so for more than one reason.
The invertebrate also owes its place in the annals of entomology due to the actions of someone well known in the field. That’s because the highly respected Swedish entomologist, Carl Linnaeus made the first recognition of it as a species, in 1758.
Unfortunately, in some cultures in part of its greater range, it has also long been associated with misfortune or death in superstition. The precise reason for this, however, eludes most modern researchers. The reputation is, of course, unfounded.
Fortunately, the marvelous Black Witch Moth also appears to be maintaining a stable and sufficient population base. The IUCN, therefore, currently has no listing for the beautiful insect on the organizations Red List of Threatened Species.
Despite this fortunate situation, though, it must be considered to be facing at least some potential risk. This holds true due to a combination of two factors. Throughout its range, both habitat loss and climate change continue to escalate.

Black Witch Moth, Ascalapha odorata — Source: https://bit.ly/2K1lZl5 Photo: Charles J. Sharp
CCL: https://bit.ly/1xMszCg

Black Witch Moth Physical Description

Most of its relatives seem content to impress based on one trait alone, but not the magnificent Black Witch Moth. That’s because this Lepidoptera merits appreciation due to both its appearance and size. This insect shines in terms of both attributes, in fact.

Like many of its relatives, this arthropod displays the physiological trait of sexual dimorphism. In its case, however, it manifests this trait in two separate ways. Those ways, not surprisingly, happen to be in terms of both its sheer wingspan and visual uniqueness.

In terms of wingspan, it displays its gender-based difference in the fact that males typically develop a lesser span than females. The larger females, though, sometimes attain a truly incredible width. More precisely, their wings can span as much as 6.7 in (17 cm) across.

The sex-based differences presented by the stunning Black Witch Moth also present themselves in terms of coloring. Females, in addition to being slightly larger, also develop a lighter color. The males, meanwhile, predominantly present a dark black background.

Both genders further develop one specific shared trait. That’s the presence of a light brown on the dorsal part of the wings. This is frequently accompanied by a mottling of almost iridescent shades of pink and purple. Females, though, sometimes show a thin white bar.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Euarthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Ascalapha
Species: A. odorota

Black Witch Moth Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The breathtaking Black Witch Moth has yet another attribute worthy of respect. That’s the fact that it evolved as native to a comparatively broad section of the globe. This range, in fact, extends through portions of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

More precisely, the southern end of its range extends as far south as the country of Argentina, in South America. From there, its territory extends northward, through Central America, Mexico, and into the southern portions of the United States, in North America.

During late Spring and Summer, the marvelous arthropod migrates northward. It sometimes even does so over vast distances. At this time, it usually moves from Mexico to the continental United States. Scattered individuals have been even seen in Hawaii.

In terms of nature, it evolved as primarily nocturnal. It therefore most commonly forages for food at night. Adult specimens, furthermore, most frequently feed on overripe fruit, usually bananas. The larva also generally consumes plant leaves voraciously.

As with most Lepidoptera, its adult life cycle remains quite short. A typical lifespan for the fabulous Black Witch Moth usually equals no more than a few weeks. Meanwhile, being nocturnal, its predators typically include various types of owl and bats.