SANParks.org Forums

I took this a few weeks ago in northern KNP , can someone ID it ?

Wow..that's beautiful!!!
Bright colouring...probably poisonous to predators.....

Beautiful!

I was totally flabbergasted by this insect!

Went and found it!

It is a Window-winged moth (Syntomus cerbera). It is a day flying moth and it feeds on flowers. It may be mistaken for a hornet because of its build and flight.

The larvae is quite harry and feeds on grasses. The cocoons are formed principally from larval body hairs.

I was sure that you were going to say a gogga!

Is it poisonous?

It's not a GOGGA!

It's a beautiful gogga!

Sorry, the books do not mention whether they are poisonous.

Thanks Imberbe .
I was thinking along the lines of a wasp .
It has a wingspan of about 3 cm , if I recall correctly .
Notice the transparency of the wings .

I looked up the Moth, and it seems to have another name in my book, along with scientific name.

I got it as the related species Amata Alicia, of the Heady Maiden(Amata cerbera)...........Due to the white spots on the legs being present. Same Moth as the Window-Winged Moth though it seems!


The Grasshopper is a Grass-Mimicking Grasshopper (Cannula gracilis)

It seems as if the scientific name has been changed! ( As per usual!)

Don't taxonomists have things to do???!! BESIDES THEIR JOB!

What BUGS me, is that scientific names are supposed to give you one standard reference for each species. The argument is always that common names are not reliable and differs from place to place.

BUT ... they change scientific names more often than common names are changed! The result: More confusion!

OK, I know they ALWAYS have a GOOD REASON for that ... but it actually defeats the object!

That is why I prefer common names: It is usually more accessible, more descriptive and more stable than scientific names, especially for the ordinary person!

OK, now I have to go and hide, before I get stoned ...

I agree! I can understand, one species, having many common names, in different ethnic groups, countries etc etc....But a single species, should belong to only one genus, and have only one scientific epithet.....How one species can be listed down in two seperate genus'(Have no Idea what the plural is ) Baffles me.

I also prefere common names, for your above reasons as well as my not so great latin skills, and tempremental memory!!