1 June 2009

23 new species on the identification pages this quarter - now over 550 moth images on these pages -  plus some interesting new unidentifieds. Three of the identifications were done with Dave Rentz at the DPI collection in Mareeba.

Moth of the quarter is the so-called 4 o’clock moth (sighted at 7.30am) Dysphania numana, which is certainly a stand out among the GGs.

A close second and worthy of presentation here, was Eudocima fullonia. This genus usually rest in the wing wrap position. After I’d secured some good lateral shots I decided to give it a nudge with my finger to see if it would open up, nothing to lose now if it flew off. The orange flash of the underwings was arresting but the moth quickly folded up. I persisted, all the time expecting the moth to escape my harassment. However, patience prevailed and it eventually - now I’m going to blatantly anthropomorphise - spread its wings reluctantly for a great photo shoot. 

Moth art. Eve suggested I enter the national Blake Prize for religious/spiritual art. I said it would be hypocritical of me to enter as I am neither religious nor spiritual. She retorted: ‘You’re a very moral person with great interest and love of beauty and nature. Surely that’s a form of spirituality?‘ So, I’ve been working on Cosmothology, a new interpretation of the Ardabil carpet using only identified moths.  The final image will be over 2.4m wide and 1.5m deep and giclee printed on canvas.

                         

And one last image. I still get the occasional beetle gem when I manage to get up the street in the mornings.

       Cheers Buck