Sounds like the start to a Grimm’s fairy tale eh. LOL
First the nymph! It is shaped like a Stink Bug (Pentatomidae) hence that is what I will go with. 😉 The little guy was about 3mm. I dropped it on the floor and it landed upside down. Soon it was released outside. The majority of the Stink Bugs family are herbivorous, but members of one subfamily (Asopinae) are predaceous on other insects. So I think the nymph came in with my bat detector that I forgot to bring in last night. And yes I did get one bat before the battery went dead.
This caught me by surprise, a Black Witch (Ascalapha odorata). At first I thought bird feathers. But what and how did it get smashed there. The aforementioned thought was only a nanosecond before it dawned on me that it was a moth. I have never seen one here in North Texas.
Gosh she was so beautiful even in her ragged state.
Learning that the Black Witch could reach up to seven inches I decided to measure her. Well with Jim’s help I went back this afternoon for a measurement. She wasn’t going to have it anymore of my pestering. And quickly flew before I could get the ruler in a good position. But wait!
She did not fly far. This time I did not get as close but estimated she was about 5.5 inches. Go girl!
I have seen the Black Witch 3 times in a whole life time. Very rare. But then as well as they camouflage on that tree, we probably have walked right by.
Ok Mary did you see an osprey today? I might have. And as many times as we have sightings on the exact same day I wanted to check. If you had, then my chances were better that is what flew over a bit ago. Ha ha.
I found a black witch roosting on our house several years ago. It startled me too – I thought someone had thrown a mud ball or shot a paintball at our house. Those gals are huge!
Well, I thought I had photographed it and submitted it to iNaturalist, but I just searched and can’t find a record of it, or even the photo I thought I took. But I remember it clearly being on the brick wall next to our garage door.
Suzanne, I bet it is somewhere in your photos. And further I bet someday you will be looking for a different photo and then you will find it. 😉 Memories are pretty great too.
Never seen a black witch but sure would like to. Have seen that black widow somewhere. Great pics
Thanks😊
Beautiful witch!!!
Fyi it is not UV positive except for eyes. But then a lot of insects eyes glow blue.
I have seen the Black Witch 3 times in a whole life time. Very rare. But then as well as they camouflage on that tree, we probably have walked right by.
Ok Mary did you see an osprey today? I might have. And as many times as we have sightings on the exact same day I wanted to check. If you had, then my chances were better that is what flew over a bit ago. Ha ha.
Ha ha! No osprey here. That was the third time I think I had seen the Witch. Other two times were along the coast.
I found a black witch roosting on our house several years ago. It startled me too – I thought someone had thrown a mud ball or shot a paintball at our house. Those gals are huge!
Was yours as ragged as mine?
No, it was just about fully intact.
Nice! Did you take photos?
Well, I thought I had photographed it and submitted it to iNaturalist, but I just searched and can’t find a record of it, or even the photo I thought I took. But I remember it clearly being on the brick wall next to our garage door.
Suzanne, I bet it is somewhere in your photos. And further I bet someday you will be looking for a different photo and then you will find it. 😉 Memories are pretty great too.