Polyphemus moth

I was going to the lake to row and since I went out from the garage, I went back up to the house to double-check that the front door was locked.

Near the front door, this large "butterfly" caught my eye about 8 feet away at the living room window. I went back to my car and grabbed my camera. As I approached, I realized it was a moth, and a moth that was very tolerant of my approach. After a few frames with the wrong lens (a lens for wider angle shots at the lake), I went inside to get the macro lens and this critter waited for me and was tolerant of me nudging it so that it would open its wings and I could get some beautiful dorsal shots. For the more boring ventral view, see my posting http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1047761

The bricks are standard home construction bricks, so they're about 2-5/16" wide (5.87375 cm). That will allow you to determine that the wing-span of this moth is quite large!

Confirmed at BAMONA as “Antheraea polyphemus” or “Polyphemus moth”; http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/1047761

1 year ago (“Another day to row!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-06-10
2 years ago (“Thanks, Danette! Milkweed in the steamy greenhouse…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-06-10
3 years ago (“Macro calla lily…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-06-10
4 years ago (“Calla lily, revisited”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-06-10

[ IMG_2575S12x9tm :: f/4 :: 1/160" :: ISO-800 ]

10th June 2015 10th Jun 15