Found this guy on bananas at food store. Free it?

[kaguramai]

Would someone please help me identify this insect? It’s interesting. It moves slightly like a wasp it almost looks like it has a stinger but I can’t be sure. Is it native to New England. What is it? Should I let it go? Don’t want it to die. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

All the best,
Justin

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[Chris Grinter]

Hi Justin-

You have some type of wasp-mimicking moth, Erebidae: Ctenuchinae. I'm not immediately familiar with the species, but it is certainly NOT native to the USA.

My recommendation would be to freeze the specimen to kill it, and then contact your local APHIS/USDA office: www.aphis.usda.gov/services/report_pest_disease/report_pest_disease.shtml

[kaguramai]

Thank you Chris for your reply. Instead of freezing it can't I just keep it in a jar until it dies; or is that inhumane? I've been reading up on how to mount with pins.

[ladobe]

Looks like Antichloris eriphia, probably from Central or South America. Musaceae is a plant commonly used by them in Costa Rica, Brazil and Peru that I know of.

You could report it to your local AG department, but they are already known to be Musa hitchhikers to North America, Europe and maybe other places.

Just freeze to kill, won't damage it. Then let it relax to mount with "insect" pins.

[saturniidave]

It gets all over the world on the 'Banana Boat', I have one caught in a supermarket in the U.K. we even call it the 'Banana Stowaway'.

[kaguramai]

ladobe, Thanks for identifying this moth for me; I really appreciate it. The 'Banana Stowaway' so it certainly would seem. I froze it, now it sits on a pin. It was interesting watching this moth act like a wasp. Almost had me fooled when I found it. It walked onto my cell phone case and stayed with me until I got up to the front of the store to ask for a cup. Thanks again Chris for your identification help as well. First post here; very welcoming group. Thank you all.