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ASK OTUS MOTHS CHALLENGE EVEN THE FBI Dear Otus, Find attached a few shots Diane took of a moth on one of the neighbor's screen win- dows this a.m. ID? Wingspan is about 4 inches across. Thanks! Rick Wulterkens Dear Rick and Diane, It's a delight to meet a couple so interested in nature, and so good at photography! Your photo is a fine one of a Fig Sphinx moth (Pachylia ficus), a Florida native. The Black Witch moth has a sinister reputa- tion. File photo A wingspan of some 4 inches! That is quite a satisfying mouthful! You see, I'm far better at eating insects than at identifying them. Ac- cording to the Entomological Society of Amer- ica, there are more than 1 million identified species with possibly up to 30 million species yet to be discovered and identified. That's a lot of Latin names to keep in one's head — enough to drive one buggy! Entomology is an arduous discipline. Even the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, does not offer instruction in it. This explains why Clarice Starling took the Death's Head Sphinx moth's pupa, which Buffalo Bill inserted in his vic- tim's throat, to the National Museum of Nat- ural History for identification. Had Silence of the Lambs been made today, Clarice could just "Ask Otus." The Death's Head moth was in the film version of Silence of the Lambs. In the Thomas Harris novel on which the film was based, the moth A Fig Sphinx moth has attached itself to a screen window. Photo courtesy Diane Wulter- kens ABOUT OTUS Otus Rufous, an Eastern Screech-Owl, was born on Sies- ta Key and is a full-time resident there. An avid hunter, accomplished vocalist and genuine night owl, Otus is a keen observer of our local wildlife and knows many of nature's secrets. Otus will answer your questions about our amazing wildlife, but only if you Ask Otus. So please send your questions and photos to askotus@sarasotanews- leader.com. Thank you.