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Big BIG moth

I just wanted to share a bit of the wildlife that can be found in Walnut Grove. This morning when I arrived at the shop, this critter was perched on the glass door. (Dave's got my good camera in Romania, so I had to take this picture with my phone.)

He just sat there while I went back home and got a wide mouth pint jar, a jar ring and a piece of sparkly tulle to capture him with. I think he was in a meditative trance because there was nothing to putting the jar over him. As soon as he realized he was enclosed, he went nuts. His wingspan was so large that he couldn't stretch out. He was fluttering like crazy so I knew I couldn't keep him long. I took him to the bank, the gas station, and to a neighbor's house. The only identifing information I got was, "That's a moth." I wanted a little more than that, but that was a good start. After about 10 minutes of imprisonment, I let it go. It looked like a bat flying away because it was so big. When
he was sitting on the door, he was about 3.5 inches long and about 3 inches wide. When I say he was big, he was BIG. I've never seen a moth that big before. His wingspan was about 6 or so inches.
I found a website (http://www.bugguide.net/). I posted the pictures a little while ago and got an immediate response. It is a regal moth or royal walnut moth, and it really is as big as I said. Here's the link to the official description: http://bugguide.net/node/view/3559. Since he was on the glass door, I could get a shot of his underside, too.

I don't think I will ever cease to be amazed at the diversity and creativity of God's creation.

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