Huge moth - The Firearms Forum

Win73 · 08-22-2009, 11:13 PM

Here are some pictures of a huge moth I found on my car. I have never seen one like this or any where near this big before. Its wing span was almost six inches. Notice the spots on its wings, they are transparent. Can anyone identify it? Is it common or rare. I live in North Alabama.

Marlin T · 08-22-2009, 11:17 PM

WOW Way too cool!!!!!!!!!

flannelman · 08-22-2009, 11:44 PM

I don't know what kind it is but I see them here from time to time.

PunjabiPillbox · 08-23-2009, 01:59 AM

Win73,
Its a luna- moth. Theyre supposed to be rare or endangered or some such thing. I've only ever seen them in green though.

Maximilian II · 08-23-2009, 02:13 AM

I've also seen this moth in green, usually in springtime. Kinda late for 'em here, even though we should probably have similar critters at similar times of the year.
NW GA here.

Mr. Nameless · 08-23-2009, 03:07 AM

I usualy see those during the fall, but never with a 6 inch wing span.

Suwannee Tim · 08-23-2009, 04:56 AM

Automeris io, maybe. Maybe not. Not a luna.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automeris_io

358 winchester · 08-23-2009, 06:02 AM

it is a bug and one that shouldn't be eaten. That is all I know

kutaho · 08-23-2009, 09:25 AM

Used to see em on occasion as a kid,
haven't seen more then two in the last twenty years.

Oneida Steve · 08-23-2009, 10:07 AM

You've got a moth I've seen before as a child. I can't find the spelling of the name. Going back 45 years I remember it's name starts with a "c" and IIRC phonetically it is a cir-cro-pi-a moth. They are not rare.

Suwannee Tim · 08-23-2009, 12:02 PM

We were paddling the St Marys river a couple of years ago in the spring and it was infested with huge green worms, big as your index finger, almost. We went back a week later and there were none. Not one. We wanted to catch one for my wife for a kindergarten project to let it chrysalis up and hatch out. Couldn't find even one. She did find a big worm with a horn on it's nose and put it in a jar and fed it leaves for a week or so. Then it started getting restless and quit eating. Still it would not chrysalis up. After a couple of days of this worm frantically charging around the jar she let it go, poured it out on the ground. Within seconds it was digging and in a minute it was gone.

PunjabiPillbox · 08-23-2009, 01:07 PM

ooops yep... didn't see the lack of tails... maybe its a cross of all three- a lunicopia Io, lol

Tom Militano · 08-23-2009, 04:24 PM

I live in Northeast Alabama and I've seen a couple of them. I have a lot of the big pale green ones that hang around the light on the front of my shop at night.

Sasha88 · 08-23-2009, 05:22 PM

I think it might be a polyphemus moth one of four types in my area .

cycloneman · 08-23-2009, 06:07 PM

it looks evil. i would bet it comes from this, very bad indeed.

Bill DeShivs · 08-23-2009, 06:19 PM

Mothra.

JLA · 08-23-2009, 08:01 PM

Thats what I was thinkin bill, Better eat it before it eats you

Archie · 08-23-2009, 10:35 PM

Just don't shoot it with anything smaller than a .44 Maga. One of them little 9 things will just make it mad and it'll charge ya'.

Mr. Nameless · 08-23-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycloneman

it looks evil. i would bet it comes from this, very bad indeed.

Um cyclone, what is that?

Mosin_Nagant_Fan · 08-24-2009, 09:27 AM

I may have seen a juvinile version of that bug, it looked like the same wing and color pattern, but with a 2" wing span. I thought, "Damn, Area 51 lost another one." XD

Bobitis · 08-24-2009, 06:31 PM

If ya think about it, what eats moths?
Birds.

Here's a blurry pic from one I found many years ago:

What do they have in common?
The last thing you want looking back at you if you're a bird.
A cat.

jacksonco · 08-25-2009, 08:50 AM

Saw one similar to it in an old Godzilla movie. Could it be Mothra?

08-22-2009, 11:13 PM	#1
Win73 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 127	Huge moth Here are some pictures of a huge moth I found on my car. I have never seen one like this or any where near this big before. Its wing span was almost six inches. Notice the spots on its wings, they are transparent. Can anyone identify it? Is it common or rare. I live in North Alabama. __________________ (Luke 11:21 KJV) When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: (Luke 22:36 KJV) Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. -->

08-22-2009, 11:17 PM	#2
Marlin T Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 7,857	Re: Huge moth WOW Way too cool!!!!!!!!! __________________ "But the simple truth--born of experience--is that tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people." Judge Alex Kozinski - United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government. - Thomas Paine Did you read todays GOOD shooting? >>>KEEPANDBEARARMS.COM <<<

08-22-2009, 11:44 PM	#3
flannelman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rural Arkansas. But isn't all of Arkansas rural? Posts: 1,176	Re: Huge moth I don't know what kind it is but I see them here from time to time. __________________ What we do in life echoes in eternity! **** Liberals, they make about as much sense as a screen door on a submarine. If you want to be a looser the best way to get there is to hang around with other loosers.

08-23-2009, 01:59 AM	#4
PunjabiPillbox V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Buckle, East Rust Belt, USA Posts: 183	Re: Huge moth Win73, Its a luna- moth. Theyre supposed to be rare or endangered or some such thing. I've only ever seen them in green though.

08-23-2009, 02:13 AM	#5
Maximilian II Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northwest GA Posts: 1,381	Re: Huge moth I've also seen this moth in green, usually in springtime. Kinda late for 'em here, even though we should probably have similar critters at similar times of the year. NW GA here. __________________ Karma is just justice, without the satisfaction. And I don't believe in justice. -Joe Sarno, bagman.

08-23-2009, 03:07 AM	#6
Mr. Nameless Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coast of N.C. Posts: 1,264	Re: Huge moth I usualy see those during the fall, but never with a 6 inch wing span. __________________ Signed ~BMP Two classifications of terrorist dead and not dead enough

08-23-2009, 04:56 AM	#7
Suwannee Tim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,227	Re: Huge moth Automeris io, maybe. Maybe not. Not a luna. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automeris_io Last edited by Suwannee Tim; 08-23-2009 at 04:58 AM..

08-23-2009, 06:02 AM	#8
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	Re: Huge moth it is a bug and one that shouldn't be eaten. That is all I know __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand?

08-23-2009, 09:25 AM	#9
kutaho Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Peoples Republic of the Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,852	Re: Huge moth Used to see em on occasion as a kid, haven't seen more then two in the last twenty years. __________________ No man stands in the same river twice If all else fails grab a rock Mi Taku oyasin Last edited by kutaho; 08-23-2009 at 02:31 PM..

08-23-2009, 10:07 AM	#10
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: Huge moth You've got a moth I've seen before as a child. I can't find the spelling of the name. Going back 45 years I remember it's name starts with a "c" and IIRC phonetically it is a cir-cro-pi-a moth. They are not rare.

08-23-2009, 12:02 PM	#11
Suwannee Tim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,227	Re: Huge moth We were paddling the St Marys river a couple of years ago in the spring and it was infested with huge green worms, big as your index finger, almost. We went back a week later and there were none. Not one. We wanted to catch one for my wife for a kindergarten project to let it chrysalis up and hatch out. Couldn't find even one. She did find a big worm with a horn on it's nose and put it in a jar and fed it leaves for a week or so. Then it started getting restless and quit eating. Still it would not chrysalis up. After a couple of days of this worm frantically charging around the jar she let it go, poured it out on the ground. Within seconds it was digging and in a minute it was gone.

08-23-2009, 01:07 PM	#12
PunjabiPillbox V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Buckle, East Rust Belt, USA Posts: 183	Re: Huge moth ooops yep... didn't see the lack of tails... maybe its a cross of all three- a lunicopia Io, lol

08-23-2009, 04:24 PM	#13
Tom Militano Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jacksonville, AL Posts: 1,255	Re: Huge moth I live in Northeast Alabama and I've seen a couple of them. I have a lot of the big pale green ones that hang around the light on the front of my shop at night.

08-23-2009, 05:22 PM	#14
Sasha88 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 25411 Posts: 75	Re: Huge moth I think it might be a polyphemus moth one of four types in my area .

08-23-2009, 06:07 PM	#15
cycloneman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7,401	Re: Huge moth it looks evil. i would bet it comes from this, very bad indeed. Attached Images __________________ Who are you going to serve today?

08-23-2009, 06:19 PM	#16
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,467	Re: Huge moth Mothra. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

08-23-2009, 08:01 PM	#17
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,308	Re: Huge moth Thats what I was thinkin bill, Better eat it before it eats you __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

08-23-2009, 10:35 PM	#18
Archie V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hastings, Nebraska; the Heartland! Posts: 294	Re: Huge moth Just don't shoot it with anything smaller than a .44 Maga. One of them little 9 things will just make it mad and it'll charge ya'. __________________ Be at Peace; go forth, spread enlightenment and joy to all. Wear clean underwear and take a gun. http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/ for my thoughts...

08-24-2009, 09:27 AM	#20
Mosin_Nagant_Fan Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montgomery, AL Posts: 1,832	Re: Huge moth I may have seen a juvinile version of that bug, it looked like the same wing and color pattern, but with a 2" wing span. I thought, "Damn, Area 51 lost another one." XD

08-24-2009, 06:31 PM	#21
Bobitis Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6,612	Re: Huge moth If ya think about it, what eats moths? Birds. Here's a blurry pic from one I found many years ago: What do they have in common? The last thing you want looking back at you if you're a bird. A cat. __________________ ^.^ A point in every direction is the same as having no point at all

08-25-2009, 08:50 AM	#22
jacksonco Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jackson County West Virginia Posts: 2,237	Re: Huge moth Saw one similar to it in an old Godzilla movie. Could it be Mothra?