Big Game, Pt. 5 - _TNY_1792

Being out shooting bugs is among my favourite things to do - but there are bills that need to be paid so when I'm not doing that, I work nights (in newspaper printing).

 

When I get home early in the morning it is not uncommon for me to find moths sleeping on the side of the house after a busy night of partying and dating.

 

One morning in late August (a couple of years ago) I got really lucky though and found Sweden's largest moth, the blue underwing (Catocala fraxini), also known as the Clifden nonpareil (much cooler name).

 

It is a moth of the family Erebidae and has a wingspan of up to 100 mm which is pretty massive for a moth here.

 

After photographing it sleeping on the outside wall of the house, I tried picking it up but it immediately ran across my hand and lunged, ending up in the flower bed below - where I shot this before picking it up and getting this one and a couple more shots with it on my hand before it flew off into the morning.

 

In this shot, the reason for the name is visible - the lovely blue band on the hind wings. I believe the other species in this genus instead have a red band.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48801858822/

 

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52515695278/

 

Part 3 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52524234582/

 

Part 4 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52551452210/

Done