Friday, September 07, 2007

Can You ID It?


What is this? Mojoman was this first to guess correctly- it is a moth, a sphinx moth! To be more specific it's a Pink-spotted Hawk Moth. I came upon him on the door handle at my dentist's office Wednesday morning. I was going to get my new crown. I really can't stand going to the dentist and the cost of the new crown nearly made me cry. I have been saving for months to buy a Birdjam to work on birdsong id over the winter. Then I broke a tooth and now my Birdjam has taken the form of a lovely porcelain crown. The only thing to make me smile that morning was seeing this beautiful moth.
When I left with my very expensive tooth the moth was still there! Since I didn't have my camera with me I gently scooped him up into a little box and brought him home.

Just look at the size of those eyes!

I wanted a picture if him near my hand to better show his size and when I tried to nudge him onto my finger he spread his wings a bit and I saw the beautiful pink underneath.
I gently place him in the shade in my flower bed and wished him luck- hoping he'd stay around a while.

25 comments:

MojoMan said...

I have no real idea what it is although it looks like a moth. But I do know one thing: That's a pretty amazing camera!

barefoot gardener said...

I think either bunny ears or bird wings.

Maybe.

I agree with mojoman, though, awesome camera...and awesome camera-woman to think of taking these pics!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you are killing me with this quiz! Hmm, maybe a moth?

Unknown said...

My guess is a moth of some kind. Utterly gorgeous pic!

Mary said...

No clue. I'll be back later to find out who the smart one is.

Anonymous said...

I think it's the back of a barred owl, the photo turned on its side.

NatureWoman said...

This is awesome Lynne!! Hmmm, I'm clueless as to what this is!

RuthieJ said...

Great Grey Owl wings (picture turned sideways). Tracy mentioned owl and I looked closer at the photo--those little feathers on the edge are what give it away as an owl.

Susan Gets Native said...

You got me, sugar.
A moth? A big ass moth?

dmmgmfm said...

I hafta agree, I think it's a moth of some sort.

Jayne said...

Well????? Lynne???? Those of us who were too clueless to even offer a guess are waiting with bated breath!

Mary said...

Linne is making us suffer.

dguzman said...

Dang, RuthieJ beat me to the Great Gray Owl guess; looks like his back where the wings meet, with the pic turned on its side.

RuthieJ said...

Oh Lynne, I'm so amazed! I would have never guessed a moth.

It's so beautiful and your camera takes wonderful closeups.

Sorry to hear about your tooth, even with a dental plan, those crowns are darn expensive!

Jayne said...

Well now, that's about the coolest thing ever... a sphinx moth with fancy pink underwing!

Anonymous said...

Wow Lynne, that moth is beautiful!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Good guesses all! Isn't that a COOL moth?!?

Mary said...

The colors are unique. I'm so glad there is another lady out there that would lift a moth into a little box to take home and examine. Then you set it free. Perfect. After all, it made your trip to the dentist worthwhile :o)

Love ya, Linne.

Anonymous said...

Excellent photography.

Anonymous said...

This is interesting, for sure. I hope I can see one some time, although your shots of it are perfect!

Cathy said...

Ooohh. Ooooh. I'm late! An Underwing, right? There are sooo many. Bev, at Burning Silo said she can actually gently move the upper wings aside to clearly see the color. Those are great photos, Lynne.

Check out this link - I think it's very close.
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/cataholibah.htm

Cathy said...

Duh -a :0)

OK Got a little ahead of your post -
Those photos had me so excited . . . .Yep - Pink-spotted Hawk Moth IT IS.

Gorgeous.

Larry said...

Great pictures-I was thinking it was some part of a fuzzy wittle wabbit!

NatureWoman said...

What a beautiful moth! I love the pink on it.
Crowns are outrageously expensive now. Is there anyone who likes going to the dentist?

dguzman said...

NO ONE likes going to the dentist!