Moths & Butterflies

Talk about sightings and get help identifying Plants, Animals, Fish, and Fungi. Share pictures and video.

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konapug

check out www. butterflies and moths of north america
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Brenda
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Did you perhaps mean this site? http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ This is one of the online field guides that I use to help with identifying unknown species. The only thing that I would say about it is that if you're using the map feature, don't narrow the results any farther than NY state, because I've had species here that don't show in my county.
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ShanaD

While I was house-sitting in Syracuse over the weekend, I had to take care of the pool. It was too hot to do during the day so I waited until night. I turned on the back light without even thinking about all the bugs it was going to attract. I am very not into bugs at all, any kind, especially big ones with fat bodies that fly. (I did not go in the butterfly conservatory with Matt as I had a bad experience the last time we went.) ANYWAYS, while I was taking care of the pool a bug, probably as big as the palm of my hand, flew towards the light, smacked into it and fell on the ground. And I thought to myself, what a stupid bug. It was wiggling around by my foot, which was in a sandal, and I just couldn’t bear to squish it. So I just stared at it and made sure my dog didn’t eat it, walked around it and went back into the house until it was safe to return outside. It looked like it had wings like a dragonfly, but bigger and not translucent, and a really big fuzzy body. (Which I knew would make a big crunchy sound, maybe even pop if I stepped on it, which is another reason for stepping around it.) It was off-white/creamy in color. Does anyone know what kind of bug this is? I am just curious.
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Matt
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If they had a "wall of shame" at the butterfly conservatory, she'd be on it.
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Brenda
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I'm thinking that it may have been a Giant Water Bug? http://www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/c-october.html I don't know that we have anything larger here. We used to find them in our pool every now and then. Yuk!
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Brenda
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mconheady wrote:If they had a "wall of shame" at the butterfly conservatory, she'd be on it.
I don't even want to know. :)
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ShanaD

No, it wasn't a water bug, it was more "moth-like"
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Brenda
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Ah, I understand now. When you said a bug as big as the palm of your hand, that was the first one to come to mind. It may have been a species of Giant Silkworm Moth. This sub-family includes the Luna (which you would have noticed the green color--the one in the Lunesta commercial), Cecropia, Polyphemus and several others which occur here in NY. Without a photo it's tough to say, but I'm glad that you didn't squish it. :)
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