07/23/26

 The other day, after washing my truck, I came out to move it and was treated to this sight.  A Polyphemus Moth was clinging to the back tailgate.  I ran back in the house to get my camera and it was still there when I came back out.  I watched it for a bit as it would very slowly slide down the clean tailgate towards the bumper.  😃  It eventually moved here on the bumper and then I coaxed it off as I didn't want it to either get hurt while i moved it or trapped in the garage.  It was quite cool and at least 5 inches across.

 

12/26/24

 Today's image is one I was able to capture of a White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth that was visiting my Petunias one early evening.  It was difficult to capture as the light was getting very low so I was pleased with how well this turned out.  I basically was shooting at a high speed and hoping for the best.  When I brightened up the photos I was happy to see I had gotten several in focus.  😅

02/08/24

 Today's image is another summer one.  I was able to see and capture these guys several times this past year.  This is a White Lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth that was enjoying the Marigolds in late summer.  I hope to see them around again this year. They are fun to watch as they hover around the flowers.

12/7/23

 I was able to see Sphinx Moths fairly often this past year.  When I took this image one was visiting the fragrant blooms of my Surprise Lilies.

4/28/23

 TGIF, it's Friday!  It's been a week.  I have seen several of these this Spring.  This is a White Lined Sphinx or Hummingbird Moth.  This is probably a once in a lifetime shot if you pay attention to the water drops and where they are coming from.  😉  It was feeding off the Lilacs.  This image had some nice bokeh as well, so, of course, I had to share it for today because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!

1/29/21

 This is another image of one of the cool Clearwing Moths I saw at my Lantana flowers this summer.  They feed on flowers just like tiny Hummingbirds the way they hover around them.  They are very difficult to catch, you need a fast shutter speed.  And, of course, due to the lovely bokeh made by the flowers in the background I chose this photo for today because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!

10/27/20

 Today's image is another of the cool visitor I had to my yard a little while back.  This is a side view of a Luna Moth.  They are quite large and lovely compared to other moths.  They are a good 5 inches across the wings.  It was very cool to have one visit and be able to photograph it as they are rarely seen.  Adults only live 7 to 10 days and they are nocturnal fliers.

8/25/20

 I had a couple of neat visitors to my yard this past week.  The first was this beautiful Luna Moth.  I happened to look out the window to the back yard and there it was in a cedar tree posing for me.  I took a few shots through the window in case it would leave but then got my macro lens and took a few up close.  It was quite tolerant.  This is only the second time I have ever seen one around my house in about a good 20 years.

6/18/20

I was able to capture this Sphinx Moth at the Lantana flowers on my deck one evening a few weeks ago.  They are quite difficult to capture because they come when the light is low and they can move rather quickly.  I was lucky to get this one relatively in focus.

6/11/20

I had an interesting visitor by the big pond about a week ago or so.  This is a Harnessed Moth that was sitting on the lid of the waterfall pump.  I love the pattern in it's wings which is where it's name derives from.  This is actually a 2 image focus stack to bring out detail.

10/14/19

Hummingbird type moths are very cool I think.  I was able to capture this White Lined Sphinx Moth around some Petunias one evening.  Those are their favorite flowers and the time of day you will usually find them.

9/20/18

I captured this White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth enjoying a Thistle flower a while back.  They are also known as just a Hummingbird Moth.  They are pretty elusive and I don't see them often so it was great to be able to get a photo of one.  I found out something interesting about Hummingbird moths, their caterpillar stage are Hornworms.  One variety is the Tobacco Hornworm that destroys tomato plants if left alone.

6/29/18

Another very hot day, 102F or 39C.  Ick  We are supposed to cool off just a bit tomorrow and get rain, we shall see though.  I took this image last October when the Painted Lady Butterflies were around and very plentiful.  I captured this one and an interesting moth enjoying some nourishment on a Cone Flower or Echinacea.

7/28/17

Woohoo, we finally had a refreshing morning!  Looks like cooler temps for a bit too, nice.  My image today is another for National Moth Week.  This is a Snowberry Clearwing that came to visit the Milkweed that I transplanted due to the road construction and was able to keep alive and it came back this year.  I did it for the Monarchs and so far they have not found but other creatures in nature have enjoyed them so still a win.  This image is best viewed large by clicking on it so you can see all the hairs and such on the moth.  Amazing what you can capture in a photo sometimes that you don't see with your eye.

7/25/17

This week is National Moth Week and is supposedly a worldwide event for the appreciation of moths.  I captured this image a while back and thought it might be a rare visitor to our area as I could not find it in my book.  I submitted it to a moth site for ID and I was close on what I thought it might be but wrong on the version.  As the second half of it's name implies, it's fairly common, Scopula Ordinata.  Ah well, still an interesting and lovely one I think.  Butterflies and moths are very similar but you can usually spot the difference by their antennae.  Butterflies have smooth, slender ones and moths will be feathery or comb like in appearance.

5/11/17

Well, we got rain this morning which was nice except it poured pretty hard, I would rather it was slower.  At least I get a bit of a break from watering my new plants.  😄  I saw this guy flying around and enjoying the Salvia last week.  I believe it is called a Snowberry Clearwing Moth.  It was fun to watch it hovering around and drinking nectar with that long tongue.

3/6/15

I shared this image today for my nature challenge.  I caught this Clear Wing Hummingbird Moth feeding on the Buddleja or Butterfly Bush this summer.  It was busy feeding on the plant and not paying much attention to me so I was able to get off a few up close images of it that showed it and the flower boom it was feeding from rather well.

2/3/15

So we are having yoyo type weather.  One day it feels like spring and the next it's arctic chill.  Today was a nice one but tomorrow we might even see snow again.  I am dreaming of summer and nice warm days today with this image.  I caught a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth busily feeding around a milkweed plant this past summer. 

1/13/15

It's very cold today though it is supposed to warm up starting tomorrow I think.  Today it's just cold and dreary and grey.  Thinking of spring Days with flowers and bugs.  :-)  This is a neat Black Moth that was on the Lilacs at one time.  I never have figured out what it is so if you have an ID, that would be great.

10/15/14

This was a cool moth that I saw this summer hanging around on my way into work one morning.  When I Googled it I found it's commonly called an Army Camo Moth but it's actyal type thanks to someone on G+ is a Hawk Moth.  I thought it's color was very fitting for our area with Fort Riley located here, an army post.  :-)