Unusual Moths - An Encounter
Poplar Hawk Moth
(laothoe populi)
On a wet evening in August I just noticed on my step leading to my garden a very large moth (poplar hawk moth - laothoe populi). I picked it up and placed it on my finger, which it was quite happy to rest on. Assuming it came for shelter I placed it on my curtain, knowing the next evening was a good forecast. The next morning it had not moved. Late that evening it flew around in my lounge, so I persuaded it onto my finger, as I was taking it outside I noticed it started to lay eggs. I quickly rushed outside, placed it on my sweetpeas, rushed back inside, got a stool, some books, a torch and my camera, set it all up with the torch aimed at the moth,and hand-held started to take some photos. I was out until the early hours of the morning. It was an incredible experience for me as a photographer to watch and catch nature at its best, will I see and catch on camera this moment again, who knows, but I doubt it.
The Hatching of the Poplar Hawk Moth
After the Poplar Hawk Moth laid its eggs on the 1st of August 2010. I kept a close eye almost daily not knowing what to expect, I had really no idea what was to follow.
When and how they were to hatch.
Then on the evening the 19th of August with my magnifying glass I noticed that most of them had hatched and one of the caterpillars was on the leaf. With the light fading and a strong breeze I decided to cut the leaf, I then took it into my garage.
Still thinking what to do, walking back to my house with thoughts, I got my camera and tripod, a stool, some black bin liners and a torch. I got to the garage, placed the bin liners on the stool and behind giving it night effect, put the leaf with eggs on top, set my tripod up with camera and cable switch. Then placed the torch shining on the eggs. All this took a little time, still not knowing what the outcome of all this would be.
Once I was happy as I could be with the set up ,I looked through my magnifying glass with my finger on the cable switch watching closely. What I saw was amazing.
These tiny creatures hatching right in front of my eyes.
As I was clicking away I got focused on one caterpillar climbing up the eggs and when it got to the top it stood up reaching out. Perhaps it was thinking ‘I’m free’ ! or more than likely looking for something to cling on to.
What an experience this was for me, and just to think this all started with a moth landing on my doorstep. It is said in photography expect the unexpected, how true that is. Did I think it would happen to me, not at all.
I placed the leaf with caterpillars outside once I had finished.
The eggs are 1.5mm across and the caterpillars were 5mm long.
Elephant Hawk Moth
(delilephila elpenor)
On a sunny afternoon in August my neighbour invited me over to show what they had found, it was a large caterpillar (elephant hawkmoth - delilephila elpenor) . Knowing that I am a photographer, they allowed me to take it to my garden. I thought i would wait until dark so that no birds etc would eat it. Evening came, I placed it on my sweetpeas, taking advantage of this opportunity, I took some photos while it was moving around on the plant, it so happens it was quite acrobatic.
|
