Ascalapha odorata capture

[joopes]

I have read reports on this forum of A. odorata being found in TN, as well as reading about their occurrence there in fields guides, but I would like to know if they are worth seeking out in NC. Are they common enough that I would have good reason to set out bait next year?

[58chevy]

They love bananas! This link might help:

texasento.net/witchusmap.htm

[trehopr1]

The Black Witch moth is pretty much a stray species outside of Florida and some of the gulf coast states.

It is a big powerful flyer and is said to be somewhat migratory in nature (in old literature).

Quite frankly I believe the species (more often than not) is blown inland from tropical storms and hurricanes which hit our Gulf Coast including Florida and Texas.

This year alone we have had easily 6-8 storms hit and these moths along with some other species get carried aloft on the high winds and are deposited all over the Eastern seaboard.

Collectors who have encountered them (to the best of my knowledge) only encounter them as singular individuals. I have personally collected around 15 specimens from the (southern) counties of Illinois over an 8 year period; always as individuals.

The first one which I encountered in July 1999 was a female that was so battered I was amazed it was still capable of flight. Most were in reasonably good shape however, with 4-5 of them being near perfect.

One of our forum members (billg) has even picked up on one occasion the even "rarer" to encounter Owl Moth (Thysania zenobia); whilst he was sugaring for Catocala. It came to his bait and surely must have been a jaw dropping experience !

I am certain that records of Ascalapha's presence exist from North Carolina as it borders Tennessee. You could try using a mercury vapor light there during the months of July, August, and September to stand the best chance of having one come in.

Also, keep an eye on well lit billboard signs or perhaps even gas station lights.

It still remains very much a prize of sorts if you are lucky enough to encounter one.

[evra]

They stray north out of southern Florida and Mexico. You can’t really seek out a stray, you just have to get lucky. The farther south you go the more common they become. I’ve had at least 1 at my lights almost every night this year in southern AZ.

[jhyatt]

Oct 8, 2021 16:18:22 GMT -8 joopes said:

I have read reports on this forum of A. odorata being found in TN, as well as reading about their occurrence there in fields guides, but I would like to know if they are worth seeking out in NC. Are they common enough that I would have good reason to set out bait next year?

I ran a backyard bait trap in the mountains of eastern TN, quite near the NC border, for about 12 years (up to 2005) and took one single
odorata. So it's possible, but by no means assured.

Good hunting,
jh

[Deleted]

I’ve taken this moth on a mountain top in NE TN not more than a mile from NC. I’ve taken two and seen another and a buddy of mine caught another in the very SE corner of TN as well…..fairly close to NC. These all came to lights. Both of my northern IL moths came to sugared trees (bananas, sugar, and yeast mixture). I got another 6 or 7 in AZ at lights.

[58chevy]

Black Witches are sometimes encountered in large numbers (dozens to hundreds) along coastlines following a hurricane or tropical storm.