I keep an eye open for interesting insects on my rambles and many like to visit Common Milkweed blossoms. So when I noticed late-blooming milkweed along the shore of Lake Ontario at Jack Darling Memorial Park in Mississauga on August 4, I slowed down to inspect the flowers. The usual bees and some butterflies were at work when suddenly a large, black and orange fuzzy-looking insect flew in. It was the ugliest orange and black moth with fuzzy legs and black wings that I have ever seen.
What Moth Has Black Wings, Orange Spots, and Strange Black and Fuzzy Legs?
When I first saw the insect, I mistakenly thought it was a Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth. There are lots of wild Riverbank grape vines in Mississauga. I’ve even seen the caterpillars of these moths.
Grapeleaf Skeletonizer moths also have black wings like this Squash Vine Borer Moth.
This wasn’t one, though. This was actually a Squash Vine Borer Moth (also called the Squash Stem Borer Moth.) They are a very unwelcome sight to those who love growing zucchini, squashes, pumpkins and some gourds.
How Hard Are Squash Vine Borer Moths to Control?
When feeding the insect often hovered.
According to various garden websites, the caterpillars of these moths are a real menace to squash family plants. The caterpillars live and eat inside the stems of the vines, causing a whole long stem to die. Because they are not on the outside of the plant, it is almost impossible to kill them easily without also killing the plant.
These moths have 2 very fuzzy black-fringed hind legs. They look almost as thick as the abdomen. Frankly, I think they looked pretty ugly.
If I’d known they were hard to control and very damaging to vegetable garden squash plants, I might have tried to capture and kill the one I saw.
Related Reading
- What Is This Pink Moth In the Primrose Patch?
- A Lovely Luna Moth
Join In
Have you seen one of these odd-looking moths, hopefully not near your vegetable patch? Do you find the fuzzy long hind legs unappealing? Please share your views with a comment.