"OMG - What's Dat Bug?"

View High-Resolution Image
OMG - What's Dat Bug?"">

"OMG - What's Dat Bug?"

Oh My God !!! Unlike most butterflies with their relatively small, slender bodies, larger, broader wing surfaces, and resultanly SLOW and FLUTTERING flight, White-lined Sphinx moths with their large, plump bodies and relatively smaller wing surfaces must beat their wings very fast in order to stay aloft. White-lined Sphinx moths are among the LARGEST flying insects of the deserts, with adult wingspans exceeding 5 inches! Larvae can be just as long, with most having a prominent horn at the rear of their fleshy body. When alarmed, these larvae rear up their heads in a threatening "sphinx-like" posture and may emit a thick, green substance from their mouth. Is it "problematic" that I found this awesome moth feeding on nectar "between snowstorms" in northern Utah's Oquirrh Mountains; or was I just "lucky?" Geez - I'm glad I had that "brown paper bag" to blow into when I saw this scary insect !!! April 30, 2009
lcarreau
on May 1, 2009 9:58 pm
Lat/Lon: 40.50799°N / 112.2892°W
Image Type(s): Hiking,  Wildlife,  Informational,  Scenery,  Humor
Image ID: 510539

Comments

Post a Comment
Viewing: 1-4 of 4
yatsek

yatsek - May 2, 2009 3:00 am - Voted 10/10

Impressive Insect/section

I wonder if you could add an appendix on these pretty flowers.
BTW To your surprise, I'm more attracted to the reddish flowers than to the green innermoth stuff. :)

lcarreau

lcarreau - May 2, 2009 11:26 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Impressive Insect/section

Thanks, Jacek! Did I get your attention? : )

After "gazing intently" for several hours
into my crystal ball, the only name I could
come up with is the "Few-flowered Peavine."

Please CLICK.

yatsek

yatsek - May 2, 2009 12:10 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: Impressive Insect/section

Looks like you did - with your reddish, or purplish pea magic! :) Thanks Larry!

lcarreau

lcarreau - May 2, 2009 12:20 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Impressive Insect/section

You are welcome! A rather impressive and
most "moth-ish" floral species from Utah !!!

Where it's currently overcast and raining. :(

Viewing: 1-4 of 4