One Huge Moth! by RodS
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Jo and I were doing some cleaning, organizing, and junk-getting-rid-of earlier today. As Jo was moving an old clothes drying pole, she discovered this beauty just hanging out on the pole. I dropped everything, and got the camera!
This is a HUGE moth - I didn't actually measure, but I'd estimate at least 5 inches across wingtips. I think she's brand-new, just out of the pupal stage, in that vulnerable stage where she was gaining strength, which would explain why she was so docile. I couldn't find any traces of a cocoon, but her wings are absolutely perfect - no tears, holes, or other imperfections. Same with her body - not a mark on her, and every hair perfect. What a beauty!
Shortly after I took these photos, the wings trembled a bit, and off she flew!
Thanks for dropping by, and all your wonderful comments and support!
Update: She appears to be a form of Giant Silk Moth. More information can be found HERE.

Comments (34)
It appears to be Hyalophora Columbia. (I'm no expert ... just looked up "giant moth" and looked until I found this one.) :P It's gorgeous! What a beautiful neighbor! :)
Wow! awesome shot!... time to breakout the moth balls... so she flew away or is she still in the area?..
Wow this is indeed on lovely moth love its markings and its antennas. What a wonderful thing to find and great captures Buddy..
Very nice moth portrait. Wish all my models would be so cooperative. Right now V4 is giving me a heck of a time posing for an image I have in mind.
Excellent work.
it's name maybe Atlas Moth. I recently was able to take pictures of some at a local butterfly garden. very beautiful and sharp macros
Just waiting for you, gave you time to shoot and off she went... like a fairytale :o), but that picture show us the reality: you took a great shot of that wonderful creature! ;o]
WOW that's a very nice one.. great shots :)
Hang on to your hat! You may be going for a ride lol... Terrific shot!
That's huge!!!!!! Gorgeous moth!
Awesome picture of this totally cool moth, my friend! Hey too? We get really big huge pale mint green ones here, okay? They really can't fly for crap. They just flop around mostly. So there was one on the ground. I didn't want my dog to step on it and hurt it. So I picked it up and moved it. I always wear gloves at work. This was at work. But this time my gloves weren't right there by me so I just did it barehanded. Guess what? It turns out the friggin' thing has some kind of toxin on it's wings. I guess like a bat repellant maybe? Five minutes later? I felt like I was gonna' bite the dust. Or maybe I inhaled some? I don't know. But I felt fine before I touched it. Great picture, buddy!
Pale green and large - probably Luna Moths. They are lovely, but I've never heard of them being toxic... I'll keep that in mind. I've never seen a Luna around here, unfortunately.
AWESOME photo. Lucky you that it stayed until you got the camera.
Gorgeous Moth! You got a great photo.
Great photos Rods You know the difference between a Moth and a Myth? Moth Balls A Myth don't have them
She's absolutely beautiful! What a gift you've been given. ")
wonderful sharp micro
Beautiful creature, great captures!
Wonderful image my friend !
Great captures of this beauty!
Great images. Very cool.
Fantastic shots and marvelous pictures!
big, hairy and colorful. great shot and find, Rod.
Just fantastic.
Beautifully capture!
Fresh off the production line and out of the paint shop. I see her flying big brothers that way everytime I drive past the Boeing plant:)
Lucky man to have this Beauty in front of you beautiful ((5++))
What awesome photos of this beautiful moth.....you must have a very good camera to get such 'clarity' and the color is awesome!! Very nice job Rod!!
Beautiful and very lucky mate! Its a real delight and one I have seen but only in captivty inside a Zoo (London).. Excellent and thanks! rob
COOOOOOOOOOOL! I saw a huge moth just like that a number of years ago. They ARE really BIG. I don't recall what they are called. Ever see a lunar moth? They are also HUGE and green. Thanks for sharing.
Very cool Rod! At five inches that is a big moth. It must be that time of year, because the other day there was a swallowtail moth hanging out on the porch for quite a while. I should have gotten the camera too. They also are quite large; it was probably about five or six inches long, with its long end tapering wings.