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| Cocoon and moth on Cypress branch |
Many thanks to the hosts of
Monday, April 8, 2013
Cecropia Moth
This Cecropia Moth (hyalophora cecropia) hatched at Bluebonnet Swamp recently. According to Wikipedia, this is North America's largest native moth, from the Giant Silk Moth family. These nocturnal moths are designed merely to reproduce, lacking working mouth parts and digestive systems. Their lifespan is about 2 weeks. The female emits powerful pheromones to attract a mate which the male can detect up to a mile away. Mating lasts all day, starting in the early morning hours and ending in the evening. Afterward, the female lays up to one hundred eggs which hatch into tiny black caterpillars. Isn't our world fascinating?
That is plain and simply AWESOME. sandie
ReplyDeleteIt's a very attractive moth. Your photos are great!
ReplyDeleteamazing creature!
ReplyDeleteExtremely gorgeous photos Gail! Our world is truly wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous yet fleeting creature. Amazing photos.
ReplyDeleteI almost envy you this moth more than the baby owls. Do you think this one had just emerged from that cocoon and was still drying its wings? It's so amazingly beautiful! Thanks so much for posting this set of images.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen anything like this before! Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing the info on the moths.
ReplyDeleteKind of sad their time here is so short! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a great looking moth! Fab shots Gail!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful moth. There is a never ending supply of fascination in nature.
ReplyDeleteFantastic looking moth. Interesting markings and facts.
ReplyDeleteI saw one of these one time and what fascinated me was their legs...I couldn't figure out what it was...thanks for the info and the gorgeous pictures.
ReplyDeleteFascinating lesson in nature. Wonderful images.
ReplyDeleteExcellent detail! It's a very cool looking moth! Nice catch, too. I don't know if I would have noticed it.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous pictures! I love how we can see their fuzziness.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic find! It is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGreat biological story - our world is enriched by these strange and wonderful animals - even if the big mammals and birds get all the glory!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I've never seen anything like it Gail. It looks massive. How big would you say this one was?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see one up close in person -- this is the next best thing. xo
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. It's fascinating to see a moth so close up and just after hatching.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting....such a beautiful moth. Seems so sad for them to only have a 2 week life span.
ReplyDeleteHow is Barbara? I thought I had seen my very first owl this past Sunday night...only to find out that it was a decoy. :(
It's a beautiful moth. I love its markings.
ReplyDeleteAwesome captures of the this beautiful moth, Gail!
ReplyDeleteI loveit very much...
Warm greeting from Holland,
Anna :))
So awesome and symmetrical! He/she had a good winter coming out with the fat belly!
ReplyDeleteWow, such great photos! It seems sad that they only live a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteThat really is pretty amazing. Loving your photos my friend.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
A beautiful moth! And what a life..that's really cutting out all the extraneous stuff isn't it! Our world is truly full of amazing stories; thanks for sharing this one and the wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by these facts...such a short lifespan for such a beautiful creature. I know of other moths with equally short lives....and also missing what we would consider essential parts!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Gail. Your photos are unbelievable! Some of my favorites :) Beautiful, my friend!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Stephanie
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteOH OOOOOH OOOOOOOOH These photographs are astounding! The tree branches look plastic. I know they aren't but the focus on the butterfly and it's fuzziness is superb! WOW! JUST WOW!
ReplyDeleteGail, listen. Every time I read your comments I always chuckle inside because you comment on my humor and you get it. You pick up on it. Then ...when I come to make a reply to you about your humor, I get here and AM BLOWN AWAY by your excellent posts, then I forget what I was going to say.
It's true! Your photography is REMARKABLE. Your ship has already come in.
♥ (hug)
amazing photographs; such a beautiful, handsome moth. I wonder what it's feeding on (the name of that tree?)
ReplyDeleteYou capture so much of the beauty of God's creation and I love coming for a visit to see what you are going to show us.....
ReplyDeleteThese shots are amazing....
I remember seeing one of those things flying by my window and thinking it was a bird!
ReplyDeleteIt is so lovely, i guess it is related to our Atlas moth, although Atlas is much much larger. However, the color of this one is more beautiful as the atlas is more of the browns.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've ever seen such a huge moth before and the colors are stunning. Great captures. PS. we had a major crash on the site...so had to redo EVERYTHING ugg...I know...you can't keep up...sorry...this one was beyond my control though. Big hugs my friend...hope to see you over at http://www.wihtinthemoments.com
ReplyDeleteMore beautiful even than a butterfly!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this interesting post, Gail! It's indeed fascinating! Wonderful photos, too!
ReplyDeleteI somehow missed this one, amazing shots!
ReplyDelete