Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Four O Clock Moth Dysphania Numana Gets Its Wings

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I have been waiting many months to be Johnny-on-the-spot when the Day Moth got its wings. I always seem to have gotten there late. Today I missed the first one and almost missed the second hatchling. I have spent countless hours locating the caterpillars, finding and storing its food, watching the cocoon wiggle away and waited many hours in the dark for it to come out of its cocoon. They have taught me many new ways of looking at plants and sensing the rhythms that moths and butterflies move to. I suppose the biggest surprise was the specific and limited larval foods they require and how important it is to notice where they land and what they do when they set down. I was like a proud uncle when I placed them on the leaves of their favourite tree, watched them strum their wings and test their strength and then fly off to gain height and be on their way.
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Four o clock Moth Dysphania numana
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2 comments:

Robyn Philip said...

Your photos are fantastic. You must be very patient.

Craig Nieminski said...

I am not patient. Just a lot of luck and I keep positive.