Sleeping Giant - _TNY_2042
The second subject when trying out my new Sigma 180mm lens was just as nice as the first one (www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52777306298/) - this is a male atlas moth (Attacus atlas) which was parked for the day on a leaf.
I got this lens because I wanted more reach so this is actually the exact opposite situation - an absolutely huge moth, stationary and allowing me to get as close as I want. But the end result still came out nice so I'm not complaining.
Do zoom in on it and you can see just how hairy and fuzzy he is!
They sleep in this position all through the day and since it is pretty difficult to hide from predators like more normal-sized moth do, these guys have evolved colouration of the wing tips to resemble the head of a snake to try and scare off birds and others who might want to eat it.
Those large, cool-looking antennae are useful for locating females at night when it is dark. The females actually have the same type of antennae, just a little smaller - though they themselves re even larger than the males.
Sleeping Giant - _TNY_2042
The second subject when trying out my new Sigma 180mm lens was just as nice as the first one (www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52777306298/) - this is a male atlas moth (Attacus atlas) which was parked for the day on a leaf.
I got this lens because I wanted more reach so this is actually the exact opposite situation - an absolutely huge moth, stationary and allowing me to get as close as I want. But the end result still came out nice so I'm not complaining.
Do zoom in on it and you can see just how hairy and fuzzy he is!
They sleep in this position all through the day and since it is pretty difficult to hide from predators like more normal-sized moth do, these guys have evolved colouration of the wing tips to resemble the head of a snake to try and scare off birds and others who might want to eat it.
Those large, cool-looking antennae are useful for locating females at night when it is dark. The females actually have the same type of antennae, just a little smaller - though they themselves re even larger than the males.