Looper Moth caterpillar on Indian Blanket, Proffitt, Texas
Taken in mid-May of 2024 on Wells West Road between Newcastle and Proffitt. We had to wait several days for hot sun to firm up the VERY muddy road after several days of severe weather turned it's normally dusty hard surface to slick, greasy sludge. Heavy torrential rains had driven all insects and spiders into deep cover and it took a day for them to reemerge, but the road wasn't yet passable so we spent two days grabbing shots along paved roads, staying off back dirt (mud) roads until things dried out.
This little looper had this blossom all to itself, where other blossoms along the road had a variety of small wasps and beeflies buzzing around... very elusive targets that in most cases buzzed off just as I was getting ready to snap a pic. This guy ignored me completely... was a "sitting duck", an easy target. Two small bits of "frass" indicates it has been munching in that spot for awhile.
This is a center crop of an anamorphic image taken with a Nikon D3500, Nikkor-H 85mm f1.8 lens focused at infinity, with an Iscorama anamorphic lens on the 85mm... also focused at infinity, with a Sigma 1.6x achromatic closeup lens on the isco. Lighting provided by a Nikon SB-20 Speedlight shot through a diffuser made from the bowl that comes in a "Healthy Choice" frozen dinner.
DSC-3967H-WS
Looper Moth caterpillar on Indian Blanket, Proffitt, Texas
Taken in mid-May of 2024 on Wells West Road between Newcastle and Proffitt. We had to wait several days for hot sun to firm up the VERY muddy road after several days of severe weather turned it's normally dusty hard surface to slick, greasy sludge. Heavy torrential rains had driven all insects and spiders into deep cover and it took a day for them to reemerge, but the road wasn't yet passable so we spent two days grabbing shots along paved roads, staying off back dirt (mud) roads until things dried out.
This little looper had this blossom all to itself, where other blossoms along the road had a variety of small wasps and beeflies buzzing around... very elusive targets that in most cases buzzed off just as I was getting ready to snap a pic. This guy ignored me completely... was a "sitting duck", an easy target. Two small bits of "frass" indicates it has been munching in that spot for awhile.
This is a center crop of an anamorphic image taken with a Nikon D3500, Nikkor-H 85mm f1.8 lens focused at infinity, with an Iscorama anamorphic lens on the 85mm... also focused at infinity, with a Sigma 1.6x achromatic closeup lens on the isco. Lighting provided by a Nikon SB-20 Speedlight shot through a diffuser made from the bowl that comes in a "Healthy Choice" frozen dinner.
DSC-3967H-WS