Thysania

Dalman, 1824

White Witch Moths

Species Guides

Thysania zenobia(Owl Moth)

Thysania is a of in the Erebidae, erected by Johan Wilhelm Dalman in 1824. The genus is best known for Thysania agrippina, the white witch moth, which holds the record for the largest wingspan of any insect, measuring up to 12 inches. These moths are found in the Neotropical region, from Mexico through Central and South America.

Thysania zenobia by (c) Geoff Gallice, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Thysania zenobia by (c) José Belem Hernández Díaz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by José Belem Hernández Díaz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Thysania: /θɪˈseɪniə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Distribution

Mexico, Central America, and South America. Strays have been recorded as far north as Texas.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The was originally placed in Noctuidae but has been reclassified to Erebidae based on modern molecular phylogenetic studies.

Notable Species

Thysania agrippina (white witch ) is the most famous member of this , first described by Maria Sibylla Merian in 1705 and formally named by Pieter Cramer in 1776. It has been called the , Great Gray Witch, and Great Owlet Moth.