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Mysterious Insect
updated: Jul 24, 2012, 12:17 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

We had this beauty show up on the porch last night. A perusal of the insect book turned up nothing. Anyone have any ideas?

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Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 300831	2012-07-24 12:28 PM
Hummingbird moth?
COMMENT 300832	2012-07-24 12:30 PM
One big ass moth! I've seen them before as well... not your ordinary Moth for sure.
COMMENT 300833	2012-07-24 12:30 PM
Hawk moth
COMMENT 300835	2012-07-24 12:31 PM
Mothra
ROGER DODGER	2012-07-24 12:35 PM
Gypsy moth?
COMMENT 300845	2012-07-24 12:41 PM
A beauty for sure...
JEFFINSB	2012-07-24 01:01 PM
White-lined Sphinx Moth
COMMENT 300859	2012-07-24 01:19 PM
Well, now that that's settled...
COMMENT 300862	2012-07-24 01:24 PM
Surely Mothra
COMMENT 300864	2012-07-24 01:29 PM
OP here - after a ridiculous amount of time spent looking at dozens and dozens of sphinx moth pictures - I believe it's an Elegant Sphinx Moth - Sphinx perelegans. Whew! Thanks edhatters!
BULLSEYEB	2012-07-24 05:01 PM
835 for the win! Funny!
COMMENT 301009	2012-07-24 08:09 PM
I saw a bird eating a bug that size. It was carrying it away as I tried to get a closer look.
COMMENT 301126	2012-07-25 09:14 AM
It is a Sphinx perelegans, and reasonably common in this area. It occupies the same niche for feeding as hummingbirds, except it feeds at night. The butterfly pavillion at the Natural History museum sometimes has these or other sphinx moths in residence, where they can be seen nectaring on overcast or foggy mornings when the butterflies are not yet flying. Celebrate National Moth week this week by looking for other moths.
HEATHER	2012-07-25 10:57 AM
Cool! Thanks for sharing.
COMMENT 301230P	2012-07-25 01:23 PM
126--what do they typically feed on? I'll plant some!

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