27 Jan 2015 - We currently have <100 WW records in a database. I am confident that 100's more exist, as observations or specimens collected and held informally. Because: an entomophile, amateur or professional, is highly likely to notice and collect or photograph the biggest insect he/she has ever seen. E.g., the fine image currently on our homepage was "discovered" as a posting in a mailing list forum from 1999, in a quiet corner of the internet. Pierre Zagatti made the photo of a specimen he holds, and graciously agreed to send me the label data, which I would never have found in a formal holding. --DLC
Update: Pierre emails: The specimen was caught by my friend Bernard Lalanne-Cassou, at Petit-Saut dam, French Guyana, in February 1st, 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit-Saut_Dam). Bernard is a known specialist of neotropical noctuids, and performed surveys before the flooding of the reservoir. The moth was caught at light trap.
Update: Pierre emails: The specimen was caught by my friend Bernard Lalanne-Cassou, at Petit-Saut dam, French Guyana, in February 1st, 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit-Saut_Dam). Bernard is a known specialist of neotropical noctuids, and performed surveys before the flooding of the reservoir. The moth was caught at light trap.