Ask MDC

Got a question for Ask MDC? Send it to AskMDC@mdc.mo.gov or call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.

Q: This beautiful creature hung around for a couple days, but we weren’t sure if it was a butterfly or a moth. Can you tell us?

This nocturnal moth is known as a black witch (Ascalapha odorata). Although these moths exhibit quite a lot of color variation among individuals — and can even exhibit some iridescent qualities — they do appear blackish and brownish often enough to earn their menacing moniker. Interesting superstitions surround these moths; they have been considered harbingers of death and misfortune in various folklore.

They are rare in Missouri. Generally, they breed much further south and occasionally find their way here by accident. Individuals can migrate north as far as Newfoundland and Minnesota, usually between July and October.

Black witches are notable for their large size — adults’ wingspans are 4–6 inches wide. As caterpillars, they eat cassia, a tropical tree, and catclaw, a woody vine. As adults they are attracted to tree sap and overripe fruit. 

Q: Tell me more about this massasauga rattlesnake. Are they common? 

The prairie massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus tergeminus) is a species of conservation concern. It’s listed as state-endangered in Missouri due to few populations, low numbers, and greatly reduced natural bottomland prairie habitat. These rattlesnakes once occurred in large numbers across much of north-central and northwestern Missouri. Today, five isolated populations are currently known in the state.

This medium-sized, venomous rattlesnake spends considerable time basking during sunny, warm days, coiled on top of a crayfish burrow or ant mound, where they often overwinter beneath the soil. They mostly eat voles, mice, and smaller, nonvenomous snakes.

Massasauga is a Native American word that means “great river mouth” — a reference to the wet, lowland habitats this species prefers. If an individual massasauga is located, photograph and report it to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Because of its rare status, it’s the most-studied snake species in Missouri.