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Details

Submitted: June 5, 2012
Image Size: 987 KB
Resolution: 2592×2600
Submitted with: Sta.sh

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Statistics

Comments: 262
Favourites: 2,276 [who?]
Views: 16,614 (7 today)

Camera Data

Make:Canon
Model:Canon EOS 1000D
Shutter Speed:1/60 second
Aperture:F/7.1
Focal Length:60 mm
ISO Speed:400
Date Taken:Jun 5, 2012, 11:11:25 AM
Software:Adobe Photoshop CS5.1 Windows
Sensor Size:14mm

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Elephant Hawk Moth Portraitby ~Sarahorsomeone

Photography / Animals, Plants & Nature / Invertebrates

A face-on macro photograph of an Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor).

His name is Eric if anyone is interested. I got him as a caterpillar last year, I overwintered him as a pupa and this morning he emerged as a moth. Providing it's not tipping down with rain I'll release him this evening.

EDIT: Thanks so much for the Daily Deviation! Thanks also to everyone for all the lovely comments and the favourites; I can't reply to everyone individually but rest assured I have read every comment and really appreciate it. I'm just making an attempt to reply to people with specific questions at the moment.

FAQ (because I'm struggling to keep up with all the messages I've had since this was made a DD)

Is this really his natural colour?

Yes, elephant hawk moths are actually pink and green (the colour shown). This colour allows them to blend in with the leaves and buds of honeysuckle (the favourite food plant of the adult moths, they drink the nectar).

I shoot all my photographs in RAW so I have to choose saturation level as part of processing the RAW file into a JPEG, but I tried to keep the colours true to life.

Why is he called Eric?

1. He was named after Eric Carle, the man who wrote and illustrated "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".
2. Eric starts with an E for elephant hawk moth.
3. I thought it would be amusing to give a caterpillar a human-sounding name (and he needed a name because 'my elephant hawk moth caterpillar' was somewhat of a mouthful)

Why are elephant hawk moths called elephant hawk moths?

He might not look like an elephant now, but the caterpillars have a trunk-like mouth, and that's how the moth gets its name.

What parts of the world are they found in?

Well this one is from England, but according to Wikipedia: "The species is found throughout Britain and Ireland. Its range extends across Europe, Russia, and into China, northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, Japan and Korea (though not Taiwan). Introduced specimens have been found in British Columbia." Wikipedia page here: [link]

Daily Deviation

Given 2012-06-07

Elephant Hawk Moth Portrait by ~Sarahorsomeone ( Suggested by *LadyxWinter and Featured by `hellfirediva )

~~mad 0 0~~

~~fear 0 0~~

*Erozja Feb 28, 2013

Hi!

Your

work has been FEATURED IN MY JOURNAL here: [link]

~onceuponatime08 Jun 7, 2012 Student General Artist

aww so pretty!!!

~Myn-Anthony Jun 7, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Adorable! And Beautiful!!

IMO, moths are way cuter than butterflies. Sure, butterflies tend to have more colorful and fancy wings, but when you get to their bodies, the little furry moths are so much cuter.

I just want to huggle him! ..... Well, shrink to his size, then huggle him.

~Godline Jun 7, 2012 Professional Artist

Now that is a something everyone should do, raise an animal thats wild and release it. Your a great person and i repect that a lot. As for the picture it RULES! Hell yeah. You got the right shot at the perfect time. I wish Eric well on his life journey and you as well.