My husband photographed this gigantic orange moth on a recent business trip. Thankfully, something this odd is usually pretty easy to identify on the internet. It didn't take long to find out that this is a Regal Moth, also known as Royal Walnut Moth, Citheronia regalis.
It would be odd enough if it were the size of a normal moth. But according to Wikipedia, this is the biggest moth north of Mexico. (That's weight, not wing span, though that's not shabby either.) In this lighter wide-angle view, you can compare him to the door hardware to see how large he is.
This was on the door of the hotel, so maybe he's a watch-moth. I know several people who would hesitate to open that door!
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Updated:
This one was found in Virginia, but they are at home anywhere in the east, I believe.
Submitted to the Friday Ark.
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