Black Viscount Moth - usually called the bat moth, scientific name Gothica morsus cranii
Indigenous to the Americas, the Black Viscount is found in mid-growth wooded areas, primarily feeding on nectar and sumac. They are very large - they can get up to fifteen inches in length. Despite the similarities in wing shape, they are not closely related to Luna moths.
They do not share the fame and sinister reputation of Deathshead hawk moths, being far less widely known outside entomology circles - which is unfortunate for humans, as bat moths are far more deadly. Deathsheads are quite gentle and are only legendary harbingers of doom because of their markings and squeaks. Unlike most other moth species, bat moths can be aggressive if threatened and cause severe reactions in humans. Just brief contact with the tails can cause dizziness and disorientation, and contact with the full wings can often result in nausea and vomiting. Adult moths do not have mouths - they have instead proboscises, used to suck liquid from plants or other sources. The bat moth proboscis is unique - it is rigid and doubles as a defence mechanism. A threatened bat moth can puncture skin with its “fang”, resulting in coma or even death.
They “hibernate” in the winter, and have a lifespan of up to five years. If you see one on a walk, be sure to admire it from afar.
