Moths are attracted to lights, I am attracted to moths!

Luna Moth

    When I was young and learned about the 4 stages in the life of a butterfly or moth, I thought "now that is really science fiction!" What a transformation; from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult. The caterpillar stage doesn't even come close to resembling the adult. This is a cecropia caterpillar I found on Putney Mountain last September.

    Look at those spiky horns and those orange and yellow round nubs with black dots. Now here's the adult cecropia moth. They don't look the least bit related. I would have imagined a green moth.
 

   Here's another example. A Virginia ctenucha caterpillar I found this spring in the leaf litter along the road.

 

   And here's the adult moth. Except for the antennae, it hardly looks like a moth.

  I've been having fun finding moths. I leave the porch light on at night and in the morning, there's a good variety on the walls. Moths are mostly out at night but there are varieties that are out in the day like this one, the Nessus sphinx. This moth resembles a hummingbird in size and manner as it takes nectar from flowers.

   The caterpillar just eats; the adult moth mates and lay eggs. Some moths don't even have mouths to eat, like the Luna Moth. The ones who have do eat only drink nectar through a proboscis. Most moths only live a brief time, just long enough to mate and lay eggs on the host plant. This is important so when the eggs hatch, the caterpillars have their specific food to eat.

   Here are some pictures of some of the moths I've seen this month. Certainly not what you think of when you picture a moth. Their patterns and colors are amazing!

Hickory Tussock Moth

Northern Pine Looper

One-eyed Sphinx

Rosy Maple Moth

Walnut Sphinx