Saturday, January 18, 2014

Live and let live (?)

I spotted this out of the corner of my eye this afternoon - had it not been sitting on the walkway I'd likely have missed it since it was barely an inch (2 1/2 cm) long. Of course I had to capture it (only digitally of course). After I shot it (digitally of course) I had to decide whether to let it carry on with its day or not.

You might wonder why I'd consider not letting it go, but I wondered whether it might be a polka-dot wasp moth - they produce caterpillars which are voracious eaters of oleander bushes and ours comes under regular attack. But I wasn't sure. I might have to check the oleander tomorrow to see if that's where it headed - if so, it's unlikely another reprieve will be in the cards.

I haven't yet bought a macro lens for my full frame Canon, but the cheap little 50mm f1.8 ('nifty fifty') got me a reasonable set of shots which I cropped so you could see this specimen. Another beautiful piece of Creation (as long as it leaves our oleander alone).

Update: after some sleuthing around the internet this morning I discovered what this moth was called - Spotted Oleander Caterpillar Moth (Empyreuma affinis). So, my suspicions were correct and I'll have to check out the oleander ... hopefully before it has !






16 comments:

seijastiina said...

Very nice photos ♥
So sweet!

Joke van de Klift said...

Wat een schitterende foto's Rick!

Groetjes, Joke

Pamela Gordon said...

The colours of this moth are gorgeous! Great photos. Is that a spam comment above mine??

Lisa Gordon said...

This really is beautiful, Rick!
I love the colors.
Wishing you a great weekend.

Stephanie said...

Love the colors on this bug.

weekend et coup de brosse said...

joli post, très bon week-end - Cath.

Kirsti said...

Kaunis väri kärpäsellä, kaunis kuva:)

Ruth Hiebert said...

It is a great looking moth,but sounds quite destructive to some plants.

Marty said...

bonjour Rick !
hope que cette bête ne détruira pas tes plantes ! she's beautiful,blue, and beautiful wings ! but it's better to see it fly away !
je te wish un wonderful dimanche
bisous over the sea

Helma said...

Hoi Rick,

wat een mooie en kleurrijke Bonte Oleander Caterpillar Moth. Ik vind deze echt heel erg mooi en leuk dat je deze nog zag en kon fotograferen. Het blauw in combinatie met het bruin maken deze mot echt heel mooi.

Groetjes, Helma

Scott Law said...

That is a beautiful insect, and not being much of a bugophile I never would have guessed it is a moth.

Anonymous said...

mooie opnames van dit kleurrijke beestje. hoop dat ie van jouw oleander wegbleef ;-)
groetjes, Hilde

Renascendo said...

I loved it.
Soo cute.:)
Bye, Rick

Linda said...

What amazing details in these photos, Rick! Absolutely fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing your photographic talent. God bless you.

Laura Delegal - Leroy Photography said...

Beautiful. I don't like to kill anything even spiders and bees in the house. Glad you caught its beauty.

Amelia said...

Hi Rick, excellent click! It's really beautiful.

Love your header picture too, very well taken and nice scenery.

Have a great week ahead,regards.