Sweetheart Underwing Moth - Catocala amatrix
Family Noctuidae
Special thanks to Bill Oehlke for identification.

Sweetheart Underwing Moth - Catocala amatrix
This huge (about 3" across) moth got into my house one night and furiously flapped around for awhile before settling on, of all places, the box my camera came in.
I took a few impromptu photos and then carefully cupped the moth in my hands and released it outdoors. It left dark dusty smudges on me.  What a beautiful creature to come calling - but I could imagine this dark thing flapping madly about might be mistaken for a bat, and scare the shit out of some folks.

Sweetheart Underwing Moth - Catocala amatrix
 

              
 
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