THINGS THAT GO BOOMP IN THE NIGHT

This Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora Cecropia) fluttered down to my farm in May. A giant silk moth, it is the largest moth in North America. She has a full 6 inch wingspan and is a beauty. Or, was. They have no mouth parts and can not eat: they are here for only 7 - 10 days; their raison d'etre is to mate and lay eggs before they go where moths go to die (it is in my drawer in this instance, that is, post mortem). The offspring, huge green caterpillars, spend all their time eating, I suspect, on hickory leaves, before spinning a cocoon then waiting out the winter to repeat the life cycle.

This is a close up of Cecropia. The males have larger antennae and the females, larger bodies. I painted her in gouache and am going to sell prints in my etsy shop. This life sized print is the first in a series of flora and fauna paintings I will be doing - and of course insects too. It measures 9 x 12 and is printed on ivory colored card stock paper. The print will be signed and numbered and sell for $18.00. PS ~ as an aside, may I comment that this print looks so much better than I have been able to photograph. I have tried every setting on my camera and not been able to get a decent reproduction of this print. Does anyone have suggestions? I have a Nikon Coolpix S630.

Things That Go Boomp

This mantis is praying before his meal. Mantis's, Mantii? I don't know the plural. These insects kind of creep me out; I am sure they can rotate their head more than 180 degrees while their body remains perfectly still. In fact, the only time you see them move is when they are spinning their head or slowly climbing. They don't scare easily, but they can sure fly (as long as it's not at me). Kind of pretty. Reminds me of the old Irish ditty or blessing.

From the gillies and the ghosties,

to the long-legged beasties,

and things that go bump in the night...

Fly Away

I found this drowsy butterfly lying on the ground before the first cold front arrived this past fall. I picked it up and placed it on the boxwood hedge before the cats found it. The monarch butterflies fly south ahead of the first real cold front each year. I hope this one fluttered off in time too.