Saturday, January 16, 2010

Oleander Hawk-moth

Your dark green body had almost tricked me if not seen you stopping by when I was doing my gardening work. Those were not your real pair of eyes but you had them in such a way always stared at me, and although that was not your mouth, I still tried to read your lips unconsciously.

You were very inactive. My experience insists me on taking instantaneous shots of butterfly, no waiting, but when I returned with my camera and start shooting, you never looked like being annoyed, even we were finger pointing at you.

I did not know you until my son showed me your identity in Chinese, "夹竹桃天蛾", that he had learned from an encyclopedia, only then I knew you are named Oleander Hawk-moth.

One's poison maybe other's favourite, and your caterpillars are immune and highly enjoyable to the highly toxic Oleander plant.



This was my uninvited guest today.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Yes, I'm coming."

(It is not proper and impolite to tell how beautiful a girl is in front of another girl; but I set a target to look for a lunar moth when found her accidentally in the web just beside this Oleander Hawk-moth.)

30 comments:

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

Now with your picture, the name oleander hawk moth makes sense. I dont think I have seen this before.. Have a great weekend Rainnie! I hope it will not rain tomorrow and spoil your hike or gardening... haha... ~bangchik

rainfield61 said...

Bangchik: My family does a lot of gardening recently. Chinese New Year is coming. Hehe...

George said...

This is a new type of moth for me. Thanks for the fascinating photos and the information. I'm glad it waited while you got your camera.

LifeRamblings said...

what a fascinating creature. i don't think i've come across such moths before. happy weekend.

betchai said...

your picture of the oleander hawk-moth is so vivid and the eyes stare powerfully like a hawk. i don't think i have seen one before, you really have him close. love it.

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful post and photos! Cool looking critters.

Diane AZ said...

I have many oleanders in my yard, but I've never noticed the hawk-moth. I like the smiley face on yours. I just looked up lunar moth indeed she's a beauty too.

homer said...

i like the way this tale was told. and i learned something new too... the Oleander Hawk-moth

Anonymous said...

Have not seen an Oleander Hawk-moth yet, now I do with your great photos and what a nice treat to see.

Autumn Belle said...

Guess what, this was exactly the pair of oleander hawk moth I saw in my garden in 2005. Yes! they were together as a pair early in the morning. They were there for 1 day and only flew away the next morning. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera to photograph it then and I have regretted it since. I still cannot forget until today. Their catepillars like to eat the Vinca (periwinkle) leaves.

SquirrelQueen said...

A new species of moth for me as well, she is beautiful. I am so happy she waited for you to retrieve you camera so her beauty could be shared with us.

SquirrelQueen said...

Lovely damselflies, each photo is beautiful.

wenn said...

wow, nice shot!

Mike said...

Rainfields, I have not seen these before. Thanks for sharing.

Kirigalpoththa said...

I have seen similar bug here too! Lovely shots! I like the design on its wing.

Cheryl said...

An amazing moth. Glad you were able to capture a photo.

roentare said...

Impressive capture in deed! Your work is getting more interesting each day

Joanne Olivieri said...

This is a new one I have never seen and although very cool photos, he's a little too creepy looking :D

AVCr8teur said...

I have never seen one before. The designs on it is quite exquisite.

Anonymous said...

That's a huge moth!

Rick (Ratty) said...

This is a very beautiful moth. I( love the patterns on it. It always seems strange to see those false eyes on moths and butterflies, but it's so fascinating.

JTG (Misalyn) said...

What a lovely critter. I like the first photo. And as always, you have a lovely way of writing your post. Thanks for the info too, oh the credit must be given to your son hahaha.

Am glad that I have uploaded the google chrome , i find it easy to browse you site. With IE , it takes ages to open the page.

A great start of the week to you rainfield.

Tes said...

Good capture, Rainy! I can see his eyes staring. I can see the details clearly, amazing. I do not think I've seen one. I've learned something new -Oleander Hawk-moth.

Sharkbytes (TM) said...

WoW! I don't know that I've ever seen even a picture of that moth. It is awesome. So are the moths toxic to others from eating the oleander?

The Retired One said...

Wow.....What an unusually marked moth...amazing!

Redzlan aka Tabib said...

I love this Delta-wings air-fighter.

Bengbeng said...

awesome pics in this post.. luckily they stayed put in the same spot for u to take the pic.. normally they fly about

XoXo said...

Wow, what a beautiful visitor you had rain. I missed this post...

Ayie said...

wow, it has a perfect camou!

hjemmet said...

Thanks so much for your post and photo. I was waked sometime in the wee hours by a heavy bodied insect banging on the window by my bed. In the morning I found a moth of extraordinary beauty on the window frame. Very carefully I moved it to a light bedcover where I could take a few pictures with my cell phone camera. I can't find the device to download the pics, but you may be surprised (as I am) that this insect is here at 3600 ft elevation in the mountains of East Tennessee, USA! How I wonder how it managed to get here!!!