Monday, June 27, 2005

Mammoth Moth


This big guy was hanging around outside the front door at work this morning. You don't see them ever day, but they're not all that rare. Just in case you can't tell, he's about 4" across from wingtip to wingtip. Below is a detail of the spots on one wing. Pretty impressive! (Any of you lepidopterists out there care to ID this fellow for me? I haven't found a match here yet.)

Update! I think it's an Imperial Moth.

4 comments:

  1. Wow...most impressive. I might have screamed upon first seeing it!

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  2. are the spots supposed to resemble eyes to frighten away eaters?

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  3. I don't know about the spots. I suppose so. I figure if a predator went aftor those spots, it would destroy the wing, and pretty much cripple the moth. I tried for a while to find and shoot the moth's actual eyes, but they tuck in their heads when they are sitting still, and it's tough to see the eyes.

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  4. I believe it is an Imperial moth, I have one in a box that is a bit more on the brighter yellow side , but it is an Imperial moth.

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