When I Found This Huge Moth, I Thought It Was A Broken Tree Branch!

When I found this huge moth, I thought it was a broken tree branch!

I migrated them to where no artifical light is visible :-)

Grote's Buff-Tip (Phalera grotei)

Blinded sphinx caterpillar under uv light

August 30th bug report, with pictures!

More little creatures today, though most of them I see quite a lot, but they're still fascinating for me. Seeing them gives me energy.

First is this unknown caterpillar who was crawling around the front gate post. He was very cute and small.

Next are these two butterflies; the first is a small tortoiseshell on what I'm fairly sure is buddleia; the bush was covered with butterflies, mostly these and small whites (or cabbage whites). The second is a red admiral warming its wings in the sun. I couldn't get a more close up picture unfortunately.

And finally, a moth I found to add to my collection! I think he was stepped on (he was on the doorstep and also completely flat). He is a red underwing, but quite an old and faded one.

(don't mind my jar of googly eyes)

Sycamore Tussock Moth

Mating of The Largest Moth species of India - Atlas Moth. Also one of the largest moths in the world, a beautiful lepidopteran species.

Those who love nature and wildlife often remain disappointed about the creatures and life they haven't been able to witness so far, and so was I. One such species, which I didn't come across (until yesterday) in a living state (I have seen its specimen previously) was this moth.

But, what a sight to behold it was. I got to see not one but two individuals of it, and their mating.

We were heading towards Kalu waterfall (Malshej Ghat). It was raining continuously. And just beside the pathway, from which some 250-300 tourists must have passed (to and fro) on that day, I was able to spot these two (and I indeed take a pride in it). They must have been in this state for more than one and half hour, at least, I saw them at the same spot while returning, too. 

- Dhairyasheel Dayal

Imperial moth caterpillar 🐛

Monday September 2nd 2024 8:56am