Sherry,

I would guess that it is a moth. There is a white form of the Tiger Moths or Haploas. I found one in my garden, but the body was orange. The antennae weren't feathered. When I first saw it, I thought it was a butterfly.

I wish I could see more detail of the head region. The broad area across the body reminds me more of a moth.

Sandy

Sherry,

I am baffled. How big is this dude? The moths I was talking about the size of a checkered white or smaller. If yours is close to 3 inches, then I would have to wonder about Tropical White or Florida white, Appias drusilla. I need to go to bed, but your image has had me searching. Arghhhhhh!

Sherry,

Size does matter, which is not given. And unfortunately the picture is so blurred in some of the places where it counts that it's not making it any easier for these old eyes that I lost the glasses for a couple of weeks ago. Even copying it to a graphic app, enlarging, enhancing and clarifying it didn't help me much.

So I'll only jump in on this one by qualifying my comments based on first impressions from what little I have to go on. Since you saw it in person and do have experience in researching determinations, I'll try to offer some possibilities to hopefully help stear you in the right direction. Regardless, it is not Ascia monuste, Appias drusilla or even a Rhop from what I can see. So Heterocera is the right direction to look I think.

Probably the best known Hetreocea with so called clubbed antennae that closely resemble those of Rhops are the Castniidae. They are mostly from the Neotropics and mostly diurnal. But they are also quite large, mostly highly colored, not stark white, and have slightly different veination. Maybe coming in with a tropical storm does fit them though, so if this was a fairly large specimen you might want to research this family.

But you also need to keep in mind that there are many species of Heterocea with filamentous/unclubbed antenna as well as the clubbed, and those with the probably more commonly seen comb/feathery antennae. Plus that most females have quite slim antennae compared to the males. From this picture I don't see this one as having clubbed antennae like Castniidae. or the veination of that family either. So they look more like just very worn filamentous antennae. But then I didn't get to see it in person, so have to just go with my impression from this picture.

Taking the other antennae forms into account, if it was on a smaller scale than the Castniidae you might consider the Spilosoma, Cycnia, etc families as they do have all white species, and veination similar to this one.

Best I can do with what I can see girl, and not knowing size, so I won't venture an exact determination.

Larry

Wow Sherry. Nice find. I am like Sandy and find myself searching the internet for you to try to find something similar. I did come across this Satin White Moth which looks a little like it to me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Satin White Moth

Angie, that satin white moth looks a lot like it, may be it -
I'll research that one.
This lep was about 2 1/2" across, about the same size as a cloudless sulphur, maybe a tiny bit smaller.
I'm inclined to think it was blown in by the storm, as I've never seen anything remotely like it.
Thanks Sandy and Larry!
Sherry

I got confused looking up white satin moth, because there are two moths that go by this name. There is a European/Asian species that's been introduced to America called a white satin moth - it's scientific name is Leucoma salicis. This is definitely not it.
Then there is the satin white moth/Palpita flegia that I think is definitely it - that's the one you linked me to, Angie.
Here's a picture of P. flegia -
{{gwi:543964}}
And here's my moth, which also has the yellow around the head, you just couldn't see it as well in this picture -
{{gwi:543963}}
My moth also has the obvious grayish edging on the forewing. P. flegia is a moth of Mexico, Central America and south Florida.
Sherry

Sherry,

Very interesting! Angie done good! I had researched and found the White Satin Moth, but not the Satin White Moth. Two totally different bugs. I found a link that gives info about the caterpillars. Apparently, they were common in Florida in the 60s. BAMONA only shows them down on the Texas/Mexico border. The transparency reminded me of the Melon Worm Moth that I found in my garden several years ago. But, I knew the size was not comparable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Yellow Oleander Caterpillar

Works for me (I never bothered with the Crambidae). Glad you figured it out. Good job Angie.

Yes, it reminded me of the melon worm moth that I saw in my garden a while back, too, Sandy. Thanks for the link. Oleanders grow all over the coast, so, if this moth could use Nerium oleander, a close relative of the yellow oleander/lucky nut, it's possible it might have come from as close as Gulfport or Biloxi. But most likely, it was from further away, which makes it exciting!
Sherry

Way to go, Ange! Unless they have unique and somewhat outrageous markings/habits/size that makes them a "dead give away", moths are extrememly hard to ID, IMHO! Especially since they outnumber butterflies about 15:1. But you done good, girl!

Great looking fella, MissSherry!

Susan

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...well gosh y'all! I am going to print this whole post out and hang it up on my wall! I am finding that "me" does enjoy the praise. (blush..blush) Thank you, and you are welcome. I just hit Google images and kept going until I found something with those transparent wings and all the veining. Then, when I saw that the one at Bugguide was photographed in Florida, I thought I might very well have a match for Sherry. It's a really cool looking moth I think. So glad to be able to help. ~~Angie :o)