Moth Menagerie

I've never really thought of moths except to get annoyed at the ones that flutter around lights and sometimes fly straight into you if you are close to the light that they are attracted to you. The moths I generally see are rather dull and boring, so I have always thought of them as the poor cousins of the butterfly. However, as you can see here, moths come in a variety of colors and patterns - so much so, I have had to change my mind about moths - while they will probably never have the same prestige as a pretty butterfly, I now know that they can be just as beautiful.

Luna Moth

The Luna Moth, also known as the Actias luna, is one of the largest moths found in North America. It is lime green in color, has a wingspan of up to four and half inches and distinctive eyespots.

Adult luna moths live for only seven days and their purpose is purely to mate. A female luna moth can lay anywhere between 100 and 300 eggs. The adult luna moth featured below has just emerged from the cocoon and is waiting on the bark of a tree trunk to dry and harden.

Luna Moth Posters by Bebops
View more Luna moth Posters at zazzle.com 

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

The Hummingbird Hawk-moth (also known as the Hummingmoth) looks very similar in appearance to a hummingbird when it is feeding on flowers, hence its name. It has a long proboscis and it hovers above flowers while it is feeding and makes a humming noise.

Hummingbird hawk-moths are attracted to flowers which have a plentiful supply of nectar including honeysuckle, red valerian and buddleia and they prefer warmer climates.

The image below shows a hummingbird hawk-moth hovering above a flower and gathering its nectar.

Hummingbird hawk-moth hovering poster by ruralfrance
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