Deaths head sphinx in North America?

[Paul Breslin]

Hello --

I don't usually chime in but another correspondent said the moth could have
been blown here from Africa.

I am a ship's Captain and have more than thirty years of experience.  I have
seen lepidopteron far at sea.  Once, more than a hundred miles of the coast
of Central America I saw a large moth flying about the wheelhouse late one
night.  I quickly made a catch-net from a coat hanger, mop handle and some
muslin - but, I couldn't catch it.  Had I caught the moth, you would have
heard of it.

The winds in Isabel were very strong most of the way across from Africa.
The storm left Africa around Sept 1st and was in North Carolina Sept 18th.
That's quite a while for any animal to live in those conditions.
http://hurricane.accuweather.com/adcbin/hurricane/storms.asp?ocean=atlantic&storm=Isabel
You have to ask yourself if an animal as delicate as a moth could have
survived?

On the other hand, there have been reports of aircraft with catch nets at
high altitudes catching spiders.

Paul Breslin
============

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Snyder" <john.snyder at furman.edu>
To: <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 18:56
Subject: Deaths head sphinx in North America?


> Folks, a correspondent in North Carolina tells me of seeing two acherontia
> atropos, the deaths head moth, in that state.  Claims they made the
> characteristic "powerful squeeking noise" when prodded to fly.
>
> Question:  has this species been seen in North America?  If not, any
> explanation for two being seen in a neighborhood?
>
> John Snyder
> Dept. of Biology
> Furman University
> Greenville, SC USA
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------------------------------------ 
>
>    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
>
>    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl
>
>
>



 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl