I never know what I’ll see when I step onto the back porch to feed Charlie. They aren’t always pleasant surprises, but tonight it was. This evening I saw my first Black Witch moth (Ascalapha ororata), sometimes known as “the bat moth.” It’s the largest moth found in North America. When I first saw it I thought it was a bird due to its size, but its flight quickly told me otherwise. To give you an idea, the pillar it’s resting on is 10″ wide. That’s one big moth!
According to the Texas Butterfly Ranch, the Black Witch Moth is known as “mariposa de la muerte,” the butterfly of death, in Mexico. The Mayans called the Black Witch x-mahani-nail, which means “the habit of entering buildings.” In the Caribbean, the Black Witch Moth is known as the “Money Moth” and if it visits your home you are likely to come into cash. In South Texas, some believe you will win the lottery if a Black Witch Moth roosts over your door. Since I don’t play the lottery, I’m hoping for the Caribbean interpretation . . .