The more you look, the more you see.
The camera is always ready for action when I’m out in the garden, and I have been rewarded with some wonderful captures.
There are so many varying critters in the garden, from dragonflies to moths to butterflies and flies. Many are a challenge to capture in a photo as they flit about from flower to flower so quick.
The hummingbird clear wing moth is a small moth with a wingspan 4-5.5 cm. It feeds on nectar, from blooms such as bee balm, bergamot, and above on the wild phlox or Dames’ Rocket. It is a member of the sphinx moth family and evolves from plump yellowish green caterpillars.
A luna moth, commonly known as a giant silk moth, was spotted on the mailbox post one morning and I had lots of photo opportunities. It has lime coloured wings and a mauve/purple line at the top of the wings.
Here is a virginia ctenucha moth, common day flying moth. The body is a beautiful blue colour and on the orangey head are long feathery antennae.
It is hard to know which insects are friends and which are foes. The camouflaged looper caterpillar could be a foe as it really is an inchworm, which will happily munch away on leaves and buds. But when it hatches it becomes a tiny wavy line emerald moth which is a friend in the garden.
The crane fly can be found in moist habitats. Only the larvae feed, the adult crane fly does not eat and only lives for a few days. There are 4 stages – egg, larvae, pupa and adult. An adult crane fly can lay up to 300 eggs in the ground.
Butterflies:
Other butterflies in the garden:
Nature never fails to amaze me.
I’m sharing with Saturday’s Critters.
Jennifer Jilks
Aren’t they wonderful? I try to garden, then get distracted by the lovely bugs!
Crafty Gardener
Nature is amazing, and I’m always getting distracted, no matter what I start out doing.
Myrtle
Thank you so much for sharing. I am always on the lookout especially butterflies and for any other flying insects. I have also started watching for different kinds of caterpillars since your posts on many types of them.
Crafty Gardener
Hi Myrt, you just never know what you will see while looking. Hope you get to see some amazing wildlife. Have a good day.
Musings
Wow! I’m really impressed. Your photos are amazing! You have so many beautiful creatures in your backyard.
Crafty Gardener
Thank you very much. Glad you stopped by for a visit, hope you return soon.
Eileen
Hello, amazing variety and collection of insects. I think my favorites are the hummingbird moth and the Luna Moth is gorgeous. The Virginia Ctenucha moth is new to me, it is pretty. Wonderful series of photos. Thank you for linking up your post. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend!
Crafty Gardener
I love the hummingbird moths too, such tiny creatures that move so quickly and bring so much enjoyment when seeing them. Thanks for visiting today.
Elke
These are fantastic shots of these insects. I love it!
Have a happy weekend, Elke
Crafty Gardener
Thanks Elke, glad you stopped by to visit today. Enjoy the weekend.
Debbie
awesome captures but i must admit that the hummingbird moth stole the show for me!! i have seen them a few times on my butterfly bush and have always been lucky enough to have my camera near by!!
the luna moth was a close second, it is a beautiful critter/moth!!
Crafty Gardener
It is my favourite too, so glad you have been able to get some photos of them too. Enjoy the weekend.
Vondean Erickson
So interesting to see so many moths and I love the hummingbird moth. Growing up we had a white moth in our garden which everyone called the cabbage moth. Its wings would move so fast. I think it fed on cabbage leaves as I remember my mother and the neighbors would sprinkle some kind of powder on the cabbage. Do not know what it was but it did the trick. So many interesting things to think of things in the past.
Thanks Linda have a good weekend.
Crafty Gardener
Hi Vondean, we have cabbage moths in the garden too, but not as many as I don’t grow anything in that category anymore. I don’t remember what they sprinkled to deter them. Memories are wonderful. Enjoy the weekend.
Lavender Dreams
I showed these photos to my hubby. We haven’t seen a hummingbird moth in a long time and I love your photos of the others too. Nature is awesome, isn’t it! So many strange and beautiful critters!
Crafty Gardener
How lovely of you to share the photos with your hubby. I’m always sharing photos with my husband too. Nature never fails to amaze me, and the more we look the more we see. So many people rush over places and don’t take time to enjoy the little things. Have a wonderful weekend Dianne.
Anu
Hello. Amazing-looking little critters. They are beautiful.