FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The black witch moth is a moth from the Erebidae family. These moths are bat-like animals usually found in North America, parts of Mexico, Texas, Florida, California, and many south and tropical regions.
This black moth migrates during different seasons. They are known to the largest moth in North America and are a migratory species. Bats are the primary black witch moth predator, but they also sometimes fall prey to small rodents. They love to eat overripe and sweet fruit like bananas, legumes, and acacia leaves. Black witch moths are nocturnal, so they are most active during the night, and the average black witch moth size of their wings (their wing span) is 4.7-6.6 in (12-17 cm). Their wings have an attractive unique pattern, and these moths have a small head and a big nose. They are usually dark brown in color. Females are bigger than males and have white stripes on their bodies.
Aside from being interesting animals, there is a lot of black witch moth superstition and black witch moth symbolism to explore too, so read on to find out more! If you like this article about these black witches, you can also give a read to our facts about the puss moth and the gypsy moth.
The black witch moth belongs to the moth category, from the kingdom Animalia. They are active during the night and these black moths are also known as 'black witches' in North America.
Black witches are the largest moths from the Insecta class. This black moth looks a little like a bat, and in Jamaica, it is called a 'duppy bat'.
There is no exact number given for the population status of the black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata). They are found in abundance in North America and in parts of Mexico, Texas, and Florida, and hence, not rare.
The black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) can usually be found in northern parts of Mexico on grass plains and farms. They live in host plants to keep safe from their predators and find easy food for survival.
These moths love migrating to parts of Mexico during winter or during their breeding season. Black witch moths are a very common species in northern American regions too. In Mexico, they call this moth the 'butterfly of death'. They are found in farms, among grass, trees, plains, and host plants where they can get food easily.
These black moths live alone on their host plants. They are solitary and only sometimes pair up and fly together.
A giant black witch moth usually lives for three to four weeks.
Like other butterflies and moths, a female witch moth lays eggs (usually on the host plants). The eggs hatch, and eventually, caterpillars emerge out of them. After that, these caterpillars feed off the host plant (fruits and seeds) and even eat small animals. They sometimes eat the leaves of the plant too. They then spin cocoons and eventually become an adult black witch moth, and so the cycle continues.
These moths fall under the category of Least Concern. You need not worry about their conservation as they are not facing any major threats.
They are dark brown to black in color, with huge wings which help them fly and attract partners. Each wing is dark brown with a unique design. A typical black witch moth head is usually smaller than those of other moths. Females are larger than males and have white stripes on their bodies. They are nocturnal moths who are generally active at night.
These moths are linked to different superstitions in different places. Despite their sometimes negative connotations, their small head and large wings make it look attractive and appealing to many.
These moths communicate via their ears. They initially developed these ears to protect themselves from predators and they can also emit faint sounds to communicate with each other.
The wings of a black witch moth are about 4.7-6.6 in (12-17 cm) long. They are comparatively bigger than other moth and butterfly species.
Black witch moths fly at a medium speed and are sometimes even confused with bats due to their appearance. They are nocturnal animals that are active at night.
The weight of an average black witch moth is 0.6 oz (18 g).
There is no specific name given to males and females. Males are simply known as male black witch moths, and females are known as female black witch moths. One difference between a male black witch moth and a female black witch moth is that females usually have a larger wingspan than males.
Baby black moths are called black witch moth larvae.
A black witch moth caterpillar will eat legumes, acacia leaves, and mesquite. Black witch moths usually prey on overripe fruit like bananas at night.
They are not dangerous. They are harmless, despite how scary they can look sometimes!
These moths have several superstitions pinned to their name, and hence not many people choose to keep them as pets.
Have you watched the movie 'Silence Of The Lambs'? The serial killer in the film puts a black witch moth cocoon in the mouths of each of his victims to send out hidden messages of transformation. This film made these moths famous. but arguably for the wrong reasons!
The black witch moth: pest or not? Scientists have shown that tese moths are not pests, and they are actually harmless.
These moths were discovered by Carl von Linné, who also gave them their scientific name.
There are many black witch moth superstitions out there. One of them is that if this black moth visits all four corners of a house, it means that someone in the house will die. In Hawaii, if someone's loved one has died, then there is a specific black witch moth spiritual meaning, where they are believed to be the personification of the person's soul returning to say goodbye. In the Bahamas, these moths are known as 'money moths', and in Texas, if black witches come and land on your door, then it is believed that there is a chance that you might win the lottery. There are so many superstitions, do you think the black witch moth omen is a good or bad one?
In Mexico, these moths are called 'mariposa de la muerte', meaning the 'butterfly of death'.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods, including the American dagger moth or the Rosy Maple moth.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our black witch moth coloring pages.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascalapha_odorata
https://blog.nature.org/science/2020/10/12/black-witch-moths-a-night-time-trick-or-treat/
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Ascalapha-odorata
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.