Butterfly as Messenger of Death

[Chris Durden]

>Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 15:35:08 -0500
>To: mines at tconl.com
>From: Chris Durden <drdn at mail.utexas.edu>
>Subject: Re: Butterfly as Messenger of Death
>In-Reply-To: <37274741.5B4FDF8F at tconl.com>
>
>Gerald Mines,
>  This butterfly sounds like a "CRACKER" or "CALICO" butterfly of the
genus *Hamadryas*. There are a number of species, many of wich are black,
gray and white, several of which may occur on Aruba. Unusually for a
butterfly they usually rest with wings open flat.
>  The tradition of a "butterfly" (most languages do not have separate
words for butterfly and moth) as a portent of death belongs to the "BLACK
WITCH" moth or *Erebus odora* of the "MILLER MOTH" family Noctuidae.  The
BLACK WITCH will rest in houses and doorways during the day, as well as in
caves, ruins and under rock ledges and culverts. It rests with wings
outspread with shades of black, gray and white. It is possible that some
people may confuse the two. The CRACKER butterfly, when showing off to
other males makes a sound like the cracking of dry bones. This may
contribute to the confusion.
>.........Chris Durden
>
>
>
>At 12:37 PM 1999:04:28 -0500, you wrote:
>>Hi,
>>
>>The following request for information was posted to another butterfly 
>>forum that I participate in.  I thought perhaps there could be someone 
>>on Leps-L that could provide information on this "Butterfly 'O Death"
>>
>>
>>> Hi everybody, 
>>> today I was totally surprised by a beautiful butterfly that had taken 
>>> a laundrybasket in the back of my garden as its residence. It was as 
>>> big as my (womens') hand and was really perfectly dressed in a 
>>> black/grey/white "dress".  I live on the Island Aruba, in the 
>>> Carribean and I had never seen such a big wonderful butterfly before. 
>>> I shouted out for my maid, who is local, and asked her if she knew 
>>> what kind of butterfly it was. She went pale and shaky. She told me 
>>> the butterfly was the messenger of death and then she informed me 
>>> about several cases in her family where such insect was seen just 
>>> before the death of a dear friend or family member. Where they sit: 
>>> the closer to your house, the closer to your heart.  I am not really 
>>> supersticious, but I do believe in signs and signals. I've tried to 
>>> find out on the internet and in our enceclopaedia's, but I couln't
>>> find anything about this "butterfly of death".  Is there somebody who 
>>> can tell me more about this butterfly and the story behind the 
>>> 'death-thing'?
>>
>>
>>Any info on the species of butterfly and any details on the local 
>>superstition surrounding this butterfly would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Thank you,
>>
>>Gerald Mines
>>Omaha, Nebraska
>>http://www.tconl.com/~mines
>>
>>