Inspiration for Tuesday, July 7 – 2009
Mystery
I’m hoping one of you can help identify this moth. It was perched on the edge of the garage door a couple of days ago. Is this normal or is the big gap in its wings to due an injury or malformation? I have noticed that although the milkweed is in full bloom that the number of butterflies is as depressingly low as last year.
I always appreciate your comments. Do read the comments for last week’s inspiration photo if you are thinking about buying loosestrife. There is a plant that is sometimes called loosestrife that is a very invasive species. Readers were on the job and pointed this out. I also should have mentioned in the main post that I love plants that are “thugs” since I garden on clay.
Nature notes: Saw a baby bluejay in the grass when I took out the compost yesterday. It couldn’t fly at all, but hopped into the long grass. The most beautiful fledgling I have ever seen. Blooming in the garden now: monarda, Asiatic lilies, alliums, hemerocallis, sea holly, catmint (should be cut back, but the bees are still working it), hydrangea, roses (of course!), hostas (just starting).
BJ, Judi, and Louise – Thank you for the research and information. It is a mystery.
I did some research on line and I do believe this is a type of moth called an Abbott’s sphinx moth….there are many different types of sphinx months, but I did see one of the pictures that looked very much like the one you show on your blog…fun to do the research and a good break from the fiber end of things.
I’m pretty sure it’s meant to look like that. It’s a gorgeous photograph! I love it when moths and butterflies get close enough and still enough for me to snap a photo of them.
Pretty sure it’s had a close encounter with a bird, although the symmetry of the disfigurement does make me wonder…but it is amazing how well moths and butterflies can maneuver when injured. And butterfly populations can be cyclical–we had a pretty cold winter–so maybe we should wait another year or two before worrying…It actually is a wonder that the timing is ever right between adult insects and their host plants.