Wow! About how long is he across?

Martha

The inside of the post he's on has cap molding, and it's 6" across from the inside of the cap molding to the other. That would make him just under 6" across - pretty big!

Sherry

People keep finding one or two in Ohio each year. I've been thinking about planting something the caterpillars will eat because you know there have to be more.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1793375/black-witch-in-ohio?n=27

I enjoyed reading the link, KC! Interesting that a newly emerged individual was found in Ohio! If they can lay eggs in Ohio, they can lay them here. I've got two Christmas cassias, plus a big black locust tree that keeps sprouting all over the place. If I could find a black witch caterpillar on the black locust, it would make all that weed pulling worth it!

I'm guessing the recent hurricane (Joaquin?) blew this one out of its normal area.

Sherry

Wow--those eyes are very Halloweenish....Hope nothing bad happens due to the superstitions!

I guess we don't get interesting moths/butterflies up here in the high desert. I'm glad you share yours. I'm glad the dogs had to go out.

I don't know what the superstitions are surrounding the black with, but I saw one 2 months ago in Mexico and it was spectacular!

Notolover says, "I'm glad the dogs had to go out." Hehehe!

Mimipadv, I looked it up to refresh my memory about just what the superstitions are, and I learned something new, that they have tympanic organs or ears that detect the echolocation of signals generated by bats. That's a handy organ for a moth to have! Some of the superstitions are -

In Mexico it's called the 'butterfly of death' - if it visits the house of a sick person, that person will die. My husband and I both have chronic diseases, and we're still here, so that's not true. I must admit though, that when I drove to Hattiesburg yesterday, I drove with great care! :)

In the Caribbean they believe it's an actual witch in disguise and will cast a spell on you.

In Jamaica it's called the 'ghost bat' - they believe it's a dead person not at rest.

I like the Bahamas superstition - they call it the 'money bat' because they think you'll come into money if visited by a black witch moth! :)

Sherry

I like the "money bat" myth!!

Our family all got home from Mexico without one visit from Montezuma, so the moth didn't bring that at least!