NaArMaMo Day 11

[altariel]

After yesterday's post, entropy_house asked if we got many butterflies around the herb garden. Here's one I photographed earlier, on the oregano. Anyone know what it is?

Comments

Anyone know what it is?

[(Anonymous)]

Pretty?

Honestly, I have no idea - it's beautiful, though. It looks rather reddish from here, and those lovely spots - !

Dwim

Re: Anyone know what it is?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

"Pretty flutterby!" was all I could manage in identification too! :-)

It's lovely, isn't it? I wish I'd managed to get it as clear as the leaves, though.

Re: Anyone know what it is?

[greylin.livejournal.com]

Does your camera have autofocus? If so, it may have focused on whatever was at the centre of the image (leaves) while your beautiful moth is off to one side. There's usually a way to move the focus to a different point in the image ... something to do with half holding down the shutter and then moving the camera before completing the shutter press, I think.

Re: Anyone know what it is?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

That photo was a trimmed version of the original, which I took with the moth in the centre. I still blew it though - my hands are very shaky *g* The camera does have autofocus, and I think it works the way you describe - thanks!

Re: Anyone know what it is?

[(Anonymous)]

This is when you need someone who knows how to "fix it in photoshop"...

Dwim

Re: Anyone know what it is?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Like they did with the fireworks at the Olympics opening ceremony! Oh for a forger friend!

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I can tell you that it's definitely a moth, not a butterfly, because of the way its wings are laying at rest. I consulted my Dad, who's quite interested in these things and happens to be staying with me at the moment - he said it might be some kind of hawk moth, but he wasn't sure.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you for checking with your Dad, and thank you to him too! It seems to be pyrausta aurata, see my update here.

Perfect icon.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Too small for a hawk moth, but I agree it almost certainly a moth. (the wings rule works about 95% of the time)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Further data here.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

Ah, one of those pesky pyralids. Though many of them are a good deal more distinctive than the geometers and noctuids. I wouldn't have recognised this one without looking it up, but Chinery does suggest Pyrausta aurata as the most likely candidate. There's no pencil tick against it, so you seem to be one up on me there.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I never knew a moth could be so beautiful.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

I never knew a moth could be so beautiful.

There are some very smart ones around. And some very dull ones, too, it must be admitted.