![]() ![]() The Black Witches’ seven-inch wingspan allows them to cover a lot of ground quickly. Quinn has recorded more than 500 records so far, including a significant record in Maine, in mid June. “This year may end up as the best year yet for Black Witch Moth (BWM) records,” wrote Quinn to the University of Houston Texas Butterfly Listserv, which includes more than 250 novice and professional lepidopterists. Because of our timely rains and climate change, several Black Witch Moth “records” have been set, meaning the moths have appeared further north earlier in the year than ever. “The migration has been going on since June,” said Quinn. Native to Central America and Mexico, the Black Witch starts migrating north in late spring. Here in South Texas, some believe if a Black Witch Moth roosts over your door, you will win the lottery. Interestingly, in the Carribean, the Black Witch Moth is known as the “Money Moth” and if it visits your home, you are likely to come into cash. The Mayans called the Black Witch x-mahani-nail, which means “the habit of entering buildings.” This moth apparently has a long history of inviting itself inside. Some believe if a Black Witch Moth enters the home of someone who is ill, the person will die.Ī variation on the folk wisdom suggests that the moth must travel to each corner of the house for death to occur. In Mexico they are known as “ mariposa de la muerte,” the butterfly of death. The folklore surrounding Black Witch Moth, like the moth itself, is all over the map. They are perfectly harmless, not an agricultural pest, and have no teeth or stingers. Black Witch Moth caterpillars eat legumes, and favor acacia and mesquite. Males exhibit the plain, grey, brown mottled pattern commonly associated with moths, but with small dark eyespots on each forewing. Females have a white, sometimes iridescent stripe across their wings with wings open. ![]()
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