Earlier this evening, the cats were acting strangely. They were meowing and trying to jump up on the kitchen sink (where they're not allowed). I was curious and investigated. That's when I saw a HUGE moth. Above is a picture of the gargantuan night visitor. It dwarfs the moth next to it, which under normal circumstances and on any other night would be considered a fairly large moth.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Night Visitor...
Earlier this evening, the cats were acting strangely. They were meowing and trying to jump up on the kitchen sink (where they're not allowed). I was curious and investigated. That's when I saw a HUGE moth. Above is a picture of the gargantuan night visitor. It dwarfs the moth next to it, which under normal circumstances and on any other night would be considered a fairly large moth.
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19 comments:
It's hard to tell from your photo, but I believe this is an Io moth. If it had large spots looking like eyes on the bottom part of the wings, that's what you had. Aren't they gorgeous?
Well the font on these comments looks like I said it was a "LO" moth. That's supposed to be "EYE-OH" moth.
I love the photograph!
Wow! Great shot! I think your moth is a Polyphemus moth because of the angle of the open wings and the distinct underside markings. This one's a beauty!
Wow! With the exception of seeing the rare luna moth, I've never seen a moth that big before!
Stunning! I love seeing those really large ones (from a distance) they are usually beautiful.
Do your cats chatter their teeth when they see something like that?
Oh my! My cats would totally chatter their teeth over that thing! I am not afraid of much, but moths freak me out! They way they flutter around wildly makes me screech. This huge moth would make me faint! Yikes!
I'm with Doreen - I don't mind much but moths give me the creeps. THis whopper would terrify me!
Oh, wow! Amazing! Thanks for the photo.
Ann
http://www.mycriticaleye.com
I see I'm not the only one totally freaked out by the big ones! I had one in my apartment with a 3+ inch wingspan - how it got in I will never know but HOLY COW I was freaked! It didn't help that the cat was chasing it around either! lol
The cats totally "chatter" when they see something they're interested in catching. They'll sit at the door for hours clicking away and jumping.
It's not surprising that folks have a poor reaction to them. Although they are very similar and are related to butterflies, the messages and meanings are different.
Moths sometimes symbolize vulnerability, attraction, fragility, and concealment. And in some cultures, death. I think the moth gets most of its reputation from being a nocturnal creature. Also because of the patterning and the fact that they are drawn to light sources, even at their own peril. I imagine the concealment part is due to the fact that they can go "camouflage".
Yes, they really are beautiful but I agree the symbolism is much darker than for butterflies. I agree with Doreen about the irregularity of their movement also being partly the cause of the reaction people have but they also have an intensity to their movement (being drawn to the light). To me they remind me more of a bat than a butterfly!
GORGEOUS.
There's a superstition about them here. You shouldn't kill them or chase them away. People believe that when those large moths come around, it's family that has passed coming to check on you. If you see them in your house, normally you can't figure out how they got in or, when they're gone, how they got out.
That looks like a Cecropia to me! The sad lives of these moths they live such short lives..they do not eat and live to breed and like a vapor are gone! beautiful Andrew!
Have to agree although they are very beautiful to look at they also freak me out if they fly near me. What is the image made from is it printed on some sort of canvas?
Hey Cali,
The photo was taken through our screen on the window. That's what gives it that texture.
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