Ascalapha odorata
(Linnaeus, 1758)
black witch, black witch moth, mariposa de la muerte, duppy bat, mariposa-bruxa, ura, money moth, money bat
The black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) is a large, bat-shaped and the largest noctuoid in the continental United States. Females reach wingspans up to 24 cm, while males are smaller at approximately 12 cm. The ranges from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Brazil and Argentina, with migratory reaching as far north as Canada. It holds prominent cultural significance across Latin America and the Caribbean, where it is widely associated with death, misfortune, and spiritual beliefs.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ascalapha odorata: //ˌæskəˈlæfə ˌoʊdəˈrɑːtə//
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Images
Appearance
have broad, triangular wings with a distinctive bat-like silhouette. Females display mottled brown wing surfaces with iridescent purple and pink highlights, crossed by a white transverse bar; males lack this white bar and are darker overall. Both sexes bear a diagnostic forewing spot shaped like a numeral '9' or comma, often green with orange highlights. Females attain wingspans up to 24 cm; males reach approximately 12 cm. The larva is a large caterpillar up to 7 cm in length, marked with intricate patterns of black and greenish-brown spots and stripes.