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Monday, July 13, 2009

Hello, Thank You & Goodbye


It is difficult for me to grasp the life cycle of a Lune Moth (Actias luna).

They are startlingly large, yet delicate creatures. (A Luna’s wingspan can be 3 - 4.5 in (8 – 11.5 cm). The clapboards it is resting on in the photo above are standard width.) We see them only in the summer months, almost exclusively at night. We have an old outdoor floodlight above the main door of our barn. Whenever we have it on, it attracts a great deal of activity. Tonight, a Luna came to visit. The photo above was the only one which was clear enough to post. Trying to zoom in on the Luna, fighting the glare of the floodlight, while staying far enough away not to disturb the beautiful moth was a challenge. But learning more about the Luna moth, puts my photography challenge into perspective. They emerge from cocoons only to mate. They do not eat or even have mouths. They live just one week. Being 51 years old, it is almost too much for me to comprehend. And I can’t help but wonder which day it is of this Luna’s seven.

4 comments:

Ms Brown Mouse said...

If they don't have a mouth, how do they kiss?
That's such a beautiful moth, what an amazing colour, how lucky/clever you were to get such a good shot.

Sue said...

I'm not a huge fan of fluttering creatures, despite my many trips to butterfly world with Jake. Still, you have to appreciate something so beautiful, so perfect!! Great shot!!

Pinky's Pages said...

Beautiful photo. I've haven't seen moths of any colour except the drab brown ones. My dad has a fear of moths (mottephobia) so dislikes them with a passion...

Hugs, xx

Pink Granite said...

Hi DMM -
That's such a sweet/sad question!
Thanks for the compliment, but as usual I owe it all to my camera, the unnamed equivalent of your "Rupert".
;o)
- Lee


Hi Sue -
You are one brave Mom - I saw the photographs you took at Butterfly World!
Thanks!
;o)
- Lee


Hi Lailaa -
Until we moved here, I thought of moths as the ho-hum cousins of butterflies. But some of them, like this Luna, are quite spectacular.
I didn't realize there was a name for it - mottephobia. Is your Dad's fear connected to what Sue described as "fluttering things".

For me, some insects are lovely from afar, but if I look too closely they make me shudder!
Thanks!
;o)
- Lee