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Privet Hawkmoth


Privet Hawkmoth
Photo Information
Copyright: Nigel Deacon (Merlin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 372 W: 219 N: 288] (896)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4500
Exposure: f/6.5, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Sphinx ligustri life cycle, Beautiful Moths, Bellas Polillas, Belles Mites... [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-15 18:03
Viewed: 1707
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri
(Linnaeus, 1758)Wingspan 90-120 mm.

The largest resident hawk-moth in the UK, which is distributed in the southern half of Britain, and has distinctive pink and black barring on the body. The similarly-striped hindwings are often concealed.

It frequents woodland, scrub and suburban habitats, and flies in June and July, with a single generation.

The large caterpillar is even more spectacular than the moth, being bright green with lilac and white stripes along the side, and a curved black 'horn' at the rear. It feeds on privet (Ligustrum), lilac (Syringa) and ash (Fraxinus).

This is a recently emerged captive-bred specimen whose wings are only just dry. A few minutes later, the wings were folded roof-fashion along the body in typical moth pose. I've posted a second shot as a workshop to show the size of the moth and the view with wings in the normal position. A big, powerful insect - amazing to share a living room with for a few hours!

Note the hook and spine linking the forewings and hindwings together - the "frenulum" near where the wings join the body. Not normally visible when the wings are folded.

Deliberate tight crop to show detail, noise reduction @3 pixels on background.
scottevers7, Keithor, marhowie, TAZ, peter_stoeckl, red45, phlr, sandpiper2, cedryk, livios, Janice, firelord, Christopher_PL has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To red45: Which view would you like?Merlin 3 01-16 07:15
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Nigel,
Amazingly detailed shot on this moth. Exposure looks to be perfect in this soft light. Nice colors, and the detail is very sharp. Workshop view is excellent view of the wings, and scales the moth. Great notes as always. Thanks for the education...
Scott

Great shot, great detail. and I really appreciate the workshop/alternate view
TFS

Cool shot Nigel. You nailed it on the DOF.
Very sharp detail, great light and color. Very well done. Thank You!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2006-01-16 1:33]

Wooooow ! What a superb Moth that you have very well captured ! Great quality shot ! I also appreciate the complementary note and the interesting upperside picture... Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Nigel, that is is hit! Perfect life portrait of a large hawkmoth. I've seen that species in nature only once before, and never seen it resting with wings up as you pictured it. And indeed, I never had a chance to see that "frenulum" on any living hawkmoth before. Breeding moths definitely seems to pay. You have sent us a masterpiece of documentary nature photography.
Also in your workshop picture the colours come out very well, and the size of the hawkmoth is impressively illustrated. And, as usual from you, very useful notes, too. Big Thank you!
Peter

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2831 W: 75 N: 8025] (26865)
  • [2006-01-16 3:19]
  • [+]

Hi Nigel!

This moth is really big and beautifull. I like your picture with side view, but also one in workshop looks great. I hope you'll post more pictures with its wings better visible. Perfect details, sharpness and colours - especially pink areas on wings and body. Great, very interesting note.

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1276 W: 133 N: 873] (2804)
  • [2006-01-16 3:46]

Fantastic photo!
It's a big one!
Excellent on details!
Very good POV!
TFS!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3073 W: 232 N: 5866] (19730)
  • [2006-01-16 4:40]

I don't think you can get any sharper than that, Nigel. A fantastic POV on this beautiful moth. I really like its subtle colors. Great job and TFS. : )

Excellent shot, great detail and focus. Good exposure.

A great macro, Nigel! The detail is outstanding, as is the DOF. You did beautiful work here, and I'm glad I didn't miss this one!

Hi Nigel,
it's a pretty moth, so sharp and so close,
excellent work, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Beautiful detail on this moth Nigel, The lighting really gave you a nice exposure. Well done. :)

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2006-01-16 17:14]

Très belle macro,la netteté est excellente et le sujet intéressant.

Félicitations et merci pour l'envoie Nigel.

joseph

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 968 W: 57 N: 1638] (5022)
  • [2006-01-16 20:09]

Hello Nigel,
It looks like a creature from the space here. Very nice details, even the scales on the wings are clearly visible.
Best greetings,
Michal

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2006-02-06 10:50]

Nigel, excellent sharpness and composition.

I like pov and colors too.

Great note.

Congratulations.

Hi Nigel!
It's amazing shot - so close and so detailed! For me it looks formidable!

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 124 W: 22 N: 18] (79)
  • [2006-02-27 12:50]

Hi Nigel.
Very much it was pleasant. It is possible directly in the encyclopedia

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3453 W: 144 N: 5902] (17490)
  • [2006-03-31 20:45]

Hi Nigel, you do have a few moths on your site along with the butterflies.
This is a big fellow, and what a large heavy body he has too. Very nice and sharp, and you show him off very well. The WS shows his pretty colours too. TFS
Janice

Hi again
I didn't seen this picture before. It's really well done. Perfect colours and sharpness. Nice POV.

Chris

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