CleanSteve

By CleanSteve

Feeling of a relationship with a moth

Two days ago, late in the evening, I was getting ready to shut down my computer after checking assorted blippers' contributions. I was also expecting my new lens having confirmed its purchase earlier in the day. I have no curtains in my office/room and depending on local conditions I can be invaded by insects attracted by the lights. the window at the back of the house is not overlooked except by the trees and the landscape of Horns valley, which is the beginning of an ANOB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) stretching for miles. When we moved here we were amazed by the profusion of wildlife and particularly insects which we had never seen before, and I had lived on a farm as a child.

A large yellow moth appeared outside the window, illuminated by the lights. I thought i would try to photograph it through the window, as I didn't want it to come inside, and to get stranded in the house like countless others had done. By the time i reached over to my camera, got out of my chair and reached the windows about four feet away, the moth was inside, having found the only small gap available to it. It then disappeared, as if overcome by the intense light inside and had dived for cover somewhere.

24 hours later, I went to bed rather early for me at about 11pm, whilst Helena was still busily crafting away downstairs. The curtains were already drawn and as it happened the window was fully closed, which is unusual as we like the fresh air whilst sleeping. I was busy checking my iPod touch for the latest horror stories about the News of the World's shameful activities, which I have been following on the Guardian website for what seems like years as the persevered with the obvious (to me at least, and them I suppose) scandal.

A yellow fluttering of wings took my eye to the curtains where the same (I presume) moth was still out and about, possibly having hibernated since last night. It wandered around the room for a minute before suddenly flying directly towards me and settling on the duvet about a foot from my face, 'staring' at me with big black eyes and proceeding to rest there. I wondered why it came straight there of all the landing spots available to it. I actually spoke to it and said how welcome it was to me, as it was so beautiful and I could now see it close-up, as if it was a friend visiting. I loved the soft hairy look of its main body when viewed from above, and when I looked at it from head on when in bed. When I looked at the close-ups on my iMac screen, I noticed a subtle hint of deep red in the dark markings at the rear of its wings.

I then carried on reading the website for quite a while, until a combination of sound and shadow alerted me to Bomble's arrival, to join me on the bed and probably in it. I forgot the proximity of the moth and stroked Bomble until he settled down. As he did so, he moved down the bed slightly and disturbed the moth which fluttered up and landed beside me on the bedside table, immediately below the bedside light. I had to restrain Bomble, as moths are a great source of interest and fun to him when they try to escape from his vicious claws. Luckily he was a bit too sleepy to be bothered with it, although his whiskers did twitch knowingly for a minute or two. Eventually he wandered under the bed clothes to settle down for a snooze. I pointed the moth out to Helena, when she came to bed, but she isn't as keen on these little beauties as I am apparently.

I got up at 7.30am to make tea this morning and when I returned with our cups I opened the curtains. Again I didn't notice the moth which had found it spot to sleep/rest overnight on the edge of the plastic window frame. When I did spot it, I decided I must try again to photograph it.

Several changes of lens later, with added types of lighting, different settings, higher and lower ISO, and reverting to auto settings, I checked the images on the computer. Only then did I spot the tiny little yellow pods, which I presume are eggs and also presume they were laid by this moth, but can't guarantee it. I wonder whether the moth is staying close-by to protect its eggs? I am hoping Ashlea's Dawn is going to come to aid me again with her identification expertise and maybe some information about the life cycle of the moth. She has recently done some stunning pictures to show the story of part of the life-cycle of ladybirds she found in her garden.

But if anyone else knows anything to help me understand what is going on, I will be most grateful! As I write, the moth and eggs are still there, as I've just checked.

In the end, it was the 35mm (my lovely new lens) which gave me the best picture here, despite it having to be heavily cropped and without additional external lighting.

Update:
Many thanks to Karenanya for the swift identification as a Swallow-tail Moth - Ourapteryx sambucaria.

This is the sort of view I had when it landed on the duvet to look at me last night.

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