Wednesday, May 26, 2010

IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S A WASP MOTH

While out taking a leisurely stroll awhile back, I was buzzed by this flying thing. My first impulse was to hit it with my camera. Then, I realized the camera cost more than my Yugo and decided to spare it's life. It is a Polka-Dot Wasp Moth (Syntomeida epilais). While it looks rather sinister and dangerous, it is quite harmless and very beautiful. Biology wasn't my strong suit, but I am still having trouble with the Wasp-Moth connection.

26 comments:

  1. If you say it's harmless then I say it's beautiful.

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  2. A wasp moth? Really? How odd. But beautiful photo.
    and re: Chautauqua--really? Lovely!

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  3. Nice capture....especially after it buzzed right by you.

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  4. It is a beauty, all right. You could have run it over with your Yugo rather than hit it with your camera, though you might have dented the fender.

    I think its body looks like a wasp's.

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  5. You've captured it in such a perfect context, clinging to that slender white blossom.

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  6. I think it's too pretty to be a moth! ;D

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  7. Wow! You were lucky to catch this. It's a beautiful macro shot.

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  8. Beautiful macro of a wonderful creature, great you decide to spare it's life.

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  9. I sit here trying to imagine the mating of a moth and a wasp ...

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  10. Very nice capture. Tee hee--of course it's a moth that looks like a wasp, but I know you know that! You're so cute!

    Travel safely up to the harbor--maybe I will see you again up there? (Not sure yet).

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  11. I would like it much better if it wasn't orange and blue. Perhaps a picture of a garnet and gold moth next time?

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  12. No doubt it is a good thing that you didn't hit this with your Yugo. That would have been the end of the Yugo!

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  13. Wise decision to photograph it instead of hitting... :)
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  14. I didn't believe for a single moment that a bug called 'Polka-Dot Wasp Moth' could exist! I was absolutely sure you made this up, but then checked...

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  15. It's that time of the year I guess. When we go out into the garden and start chasing insects. I will be right back I just noticed a bug flying by!

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  16. we may have had those here but the mosquitoes ran em off.
    V

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  17. Beautiful capture. Not much into wasp-moths myself but this looks like a beautiful specimen :)

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  18. That's a great photo and a very lovely bug indeed. I once swallowed a bug while I was talking to somebody. It flew right in my mouth. I'm glad it wasn't that one.

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  19. I've never heard of a white, anglo-saxon, Protestant moth!

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  20. It's very cool looking, and it chose a nice contrasting background for your. Which is harder to photograph, but nice to look at. I've never seen one.

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  21. Cool beans----I think some ones little kid named this one. Good catch though. MB

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  22. It's very pretty and you got a great photo of it!

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  23. This is a gorgeous moth! Wonderful shot indeed!

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