Just spotted a Black Witch Moth? Congratulations, you’ve come across the largest noctuoid (night owl moths) in the Continental United States. Boasting a seven-inch wingspan, it’s easy to see where the nickname “bat moth” comes from.

According to Caribbean legend, this species is the “Money Moth”, and if it visits your home, you’ll come into a lot of cash. In South Texas, a similar myth says that if a Black Witch Moth roosts over your door, you’ll win the lottery.

Don’t get too excited though, because the black witch moth is a harbinger of death in Mexican folklore. Here, they are known as “mariposa de la muerte,” the butterfly of death. In scientific terms, the Black Witch Moth is totally harmless - but you might want to write that Will, just in case.