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Yvonne Scott
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A small moth that looks like a miniature dragon was on my porch yesterday outside Carbondale. Is it a menace or not? Sorta cute for what looks like a strange moth.
8393A245-1AD4-498E-B087-6751900562D8.jpeg
[Thumbnail for 8393A245-1AD4-498E-B087-6751900562D8.jpeg]

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greg mosser
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the wing shape makes me think it’s a hawk moth of some sort, but definitely not sure! the hawk moth caterpillars are hornworms, some of which are garden etc pests, but there are many kinds that only feed on wild plants. if that’s a hawk moth,i have doubts that it’s one of the few that are pests of things you’re potentially growing. i vote not a menace.
 
Douglas Alpenstock
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Not my locale, so I cannot comment on menace or not.

But that is one seriously cool bug! Thanks for the pic.
 
Matt McSpadden
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To me it appears that we are looking at the rear of the moth with its tail up and head down. I don't see any antenna on the end sticking up :)

I agree with Greg that the coloring looks like some sort of hawk/sphinx moth. If that is the case and if you are growing any tomatoes or peppers or similar, you might run into some hornworms. They are not the worst thing in the world, but they can eat a lot of the vegetation off the plant.

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greg mosser
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agreed, head down, booty up. tomato hornworm hawkmoths are a lot bigger, so i wouldn’t worry about them.
 
Anne Miller
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I like to ask Mr. Google silly questions so I asked "moth that looks like a dragon" and the answer was:

Dragon moth (Apatelodes torrefacta)


source

Thanks for sharing as that was fun learning about different moths.

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Yvonne Scott
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I’m very happy to learn this little guy IS a dragon—moth. He/she was quite small, barely two inches across wingspread. Thanks Ann for his scientific name. Now to do some more research. Thanks everyone!

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Matt McSpadden
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Seeing pictures, it looks more like the Dragon Moth. This quote is taken from whatsthatbug.com

Spotted Apatelodes isn’t quite as descriptive as Dragon Moth. Though it resembles a Sphinx Moth, the Spotted Apatelodes, Apatelodes torrefacta, is actually one of the Silkworm Moths in the family Bombycidae.



Maybe you have a money making opportunity with silk? :)

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