Invertebrates
Black Witch Moth
Ascalapha odorata · also called black witch moths, mariposa de la muerte
A porch light in Ontario draws in a moth the size of a small bird, dark wings spanning nearly seven inches, thousands of miles from the tropical forest where it hatched, carried north entirely on the strength of storm winds.
Overview
The black witch moth, Ascalapha odorata, is one of the largest moths in North America, native to forest and grassland habitat across the tropical and subtropical Americas. Its impressive size, remarkable long-distance vagrancy, and rich folklore reputation across Latin American cultures make it one of the more culturally significant and physically striking moths on the continent.
A moth that travels farther than most birds bother to
While most moths stay close to home, the black witch moth thinks nothing of riding storm winds thousands of miles north of its usual range, turning a routine porch light in Canada into an unlikely meeting with a proper tropical giant.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and abundant across suitable tropical and subtropical habitat throughout the Americas.
Black Witch Moth: common questions
How big does a black witch moth get?
The black witch moth can reach a wingspan of up to roughly six or seven inches, making it one of the largest moths recorded in North America, with only a small number of other species approaching or exceeding its size on the continent.
Why do black witch moths sometimes appear so far from their normal range?
This species is a strong, far-ranging flier capable of being carried by storm systems and prevailing winds thousands of miles beyond its typical tropical and subtropical range, which is why a black witch moth occasionally turns up as a surprising stray as far north as Canada.
What does the black witch moth's folklore name mean?
The black witch moth carries the Spanish nickname mariposa de la muerte, or "butterfly of death," reflecting folklore across parts of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean where the moth's appearance is sometimes regarded as an omen of death, though other traditions in the same region instead treat it as a sign of good luck or an approaching windfall.
What do black witch moth caterpillars eat?
The black witch moth caterpillar feeds on the leaves of legume trees such as acacia and cassia, while the adult moth instead feeds on fermenting fruit and flower nectar, a diet shift typical of many large moth species between their larval and adult stages.