Is anyone versed on the insects around Mount Hood? On Tuesday I was walking to Gordon Butte on 2711-120. I ended up turning around at about 4100ft due to rain/snow. On my way back down there were these giant fuzzy moth like insects that were slowly flying around the road. They weren’t there on the way up so I’m guessing the rain stirred them up. I was unable to get a picture of them.
Googling “large fuzzy moth late October Mount Hood” is unsurprisingly less than helpful.
Moth (?) ID question
Moth (?) ID question
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
― Terry Pratchett, Jingo
― Terry Pratchett, Jingo
- adamschneider
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Re: Moth (?) ID question
How big is "giant"? What color? No photos?
Re: Moth (?) ID question
Re: Moth (?) ID question
Sorry, no pictures. I ended up stowing my phone somewhere it couldn't get wet when it started raining and snowing. It's body looked fuzzy, probably 1-2 inches long, wings about 2-3 inches. Overall color was shades of brown. I didn't notice them on the way up but when I was coming back down in the rain they seemed to be all over.
I'm looking at the pictures from the link to see if I can see anything that looks similar.
I'm looking at the pictures from the link to see if I can see anything that looks similar.
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
― Terry Pratchett, Jingo
― Terry Pratchett, Jingo
Re: Moth (?) ID question
One possible candidate is the pandora moth, which has big irruptions. It seems a little late in the year for the adults, though.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 47800.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 47800.pdf
Re: Moth (?) ID question
"Hosts—Lodgepole and ponderosa pines."
This would tend to limit their habitat around Mt. Hood.
This would tend to limit their habitat around Mt. Hood.
Re: Moth (?) ID question
Right - but Gordon Butte, far east side of the national forest: lots of ponderosas there.
Re: Moth (?) ID question
Google sphinx moth.