!

A group of us were moth trapping over in Suffolk last night. Lots of good stuff in the traps, and also a few bits from around the site - but that can wait. Aside from the moths and other bits, we did pick up something that I certainly wasn't expecting. Some things are just inherently awesome for any number of reasons - sheer beauty, impressive size, rarity. This one fits the awesome bill .....

Ant-Lion

Mind you, this one isn't bad either ....

Convolvulous Hawk-moth

Rearing Snakes

Found some old photos from 2005 that I'd forgotten about, some larvae that were donated for rearing .... big larvae ....

In case you don't recognise them, they turn into this after pupation ....

Death's-head Hawk-moth

I have to say that it was good fun rearing these, but a lot harder work than your average tub of moth larvae. They needed a much bigger box for a start, and the privet was being replenished in large bunches daily. The kids were amazed by them, and of course they had to be taken to school for show and tell.

At the same time I had this to rear ...

Which duly turned into this stunner ....

Oleander Hawk-moth

I also had this Convolvulous Hawk, but I can't find any photos of the resulting adult ....

Whilst the Death's-heads were great, it wasn't my first time seeing the adult as earlier in 2005 this was found in a local Garden Centre - obviously an adventive individual ....

These really are impressive moths, and it's very hard to resist giving them a good poke to make them squeak!