This bug I actually know. It’s the American Snout Butterfly, and last week they were all over town!

According to the  Austin American-Statesman, the drought we had all summer, followed by the heavy rains in October set up the conditions for this to happen.  

The rain knocks out parasites that feed on the butterflies, and the spiny hackberry plant, which nourishes the butterflies, becomes abundant. When the butterflies exhaust the food supply in an area, they move on.

On Saturday they were everywhere I drove. Hundreds and hundreds of them. Saturday night I discovered one of the butterflies had made its way into my garage, so I took this picture.

Another specimen. Please comment if you have any idea what it is. Some kind of beetle?

——————-

And here is the first of my “What Bug Is This” posts. Major props to John McGuire who knew that it was the Giant Leopard Moth.

Sitting on my front porch. It was very big, about 4″, and as you can see, quite beautiful. Anybody know what this is? Please tell me!