Saturday 30 July 2016

What goes there in the night: sphinx moths



More critters hosted by Eileen
#137
I guess I grossed out a few people with my snake tale. As several blog buddies said, it is gruesome, in an eerie sort of fascination. Death is inevitable for all of us.
I've had a discussion on Facebook, whether we need to show abused humans and animals when we make a point, or ask for money for fundraisers.  I think not. Anyone I know, even in cyberspace, have good hearts and donate as much as they can to good causes.

Here are some pretty photos. I love the giant sphinx moths!  They love my phlox in the night. There are many different sphinx species...
Blinded sphinx underwing
Sphinx chersis
Great ash sphinx

Bipectinate antenna;
fuzzy wuzzy basal area!
White-lined sphinx on phlox
Paonias excaecata
Blinded sphinx
Xylophanes tersa Tersa Sphinx




They flit, buzz, hover, like hummingbirds. In the video, the noise is the goldfish pond pump! I took Jos out, my eldest granddaughter, to watch them in the dark.
Spinx Moth from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

7 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello, it is a beautiful moth. Wonderful video and photos.

Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
Fabulous video Jenn - and I love that I can now 'place' where it is!!! Am inclined to agree about the photos thing - I completely understand the need to raise awareness, but do think that there is a fine line, often crossed, into which the showing of such becomes, of itself, abusive and offensive. Actually, just the other day I said out loud in response to a news item about a massive child abuse situation here in Scotland, that the telling of the news did NOT need to be accompanied by (albeit 'archive/actor') pictures, which seemed to me to be doing exactly what was being condemned. YAM xx

William Kendall said...

Amazing patterns on the moths.

Nancy J said...

Your snake video was what happens in real life in the animal world, but lately I cannot even see abuse or death or war on TV without getting so upset, so I am trying to leave all that, just close my eyes and not see it. However, every day, it is still happening. Your moth at night, did you have lights on out there, what a fab video to get that all in.This is the stuff that makes memories for the grandies. Hugs from a very windy, snow falling in the south and closer by. NZ.

Red said...

So , it's pretty neat that you can get photos of the night creatures.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

your snake videos and photos didn't gross me out at all (I'm pretty sure I commented to that effect) but I also enjoyed the beautiful butterflies -- as I do everything you show from your own private nature preserve there!

It's all a matter of balance and I appreciate when my blog friends can show and tell about more than just lollipops and roses (though those are nice too in moderation ;>)

Powell River Books said...

I don't see many moths around our place. And the other thing is mosquitoes. We were plagued by them out in our ocean boat at anchor, but at the cabin they are a rare occurrence. That's a good thing for sure. - Margy