Here we are. The Elephant Hawk Moth. isn't it lovely, even in my inexpert photographic hands. When I was 13, I made friends with the curator of natural history at Leeds Museum, John Armitage. He was a lovely man, very knowledgeable and also a highly skilled miniaturist painter who used to forge postage stamps. He told me and my brother Andy that if we went in August and looked on the rosebay willowherb along Leeds ring road at Adel, we would find Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillars (they are grey with 'eyes' and 'trunks' which led to the moth's name). And so it proved. But this one is from my light trap.
5 comments:
Hi Martin, got the link to here from the Northener...just had to come have a look-see when I saw it was about moths. I'm passionate about all wildlife, so your blog's another great source of info for me. I'll look forward to checking back regularly to see what other beauties you have here. Best of luck with it, Jane
Hooray, my FIRST comment. Thanks ever so. Maybe you'll get your own trap. Even an ordinary light on outside can be good. Or the infamous rum and treacle mixture smeared on trees. Thanks again. M
Moths are such beautiful creatures, and, sadly, much maligned. I've been trying to persuade my son that they're fabulous animals, but to no avail...so far...not giving up, lol. I'd love to get my own trap, but have to wait till I'm fully mobile again after my accident. What better incentive to get better, huh? Jane
Absolutely - get well soon! I sympathise with your son because so many British moths are dowdy (on casual inspection; they improve with acquaintance as you know). Maybe an exotic holiday will come his way. The moths in the tropics are quite amazing. I saw a light trap in Indonesia years ago. It would have taken a month to sort everything in it out.
I am going backwards here, but I take back my remark about Delaware County. It may be that I have not set a trap, yet, so I don't know, but I am pretty sure we have nothing like this here in New York State!
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