Carolina Sphinx Moth
Posted By Melissa on August 20, 2010
For the past couple of weeks I’ve been purposefully leaving the light on outside by the door to our schoolroom. It has been SO much fun to go down to school in the morning and first thing check the wall outside by the door for moths. It’s like a little treasure hunt each morning to see which moths will visit and stay for us to observe them. This morning we had a special visitor, the Carolina Sphinx Moth.

The sun's reflection made the moth appear brown, when really it's more grayish in color.
This moth is pretty large and at first glance seemed pretty bland in color. My oldest daughter suggested I see if it would let me pick it up (notice how she makes me do it). So, of course, I did. And the moth was just as friendly as could be. I think they are rather lazy in the morning and they’ll let you do that. When I picked it up it spread out it’s wings to reveal six rows of bright yellow bands. I don’t think it’s so bland in color anymore.

The six rows of bright yellow bands were outlined in black and white.
My daughter took numerous closeup photos so we could observe the details.

A closer look shows the moth's proboscis and compound eyes.
I really was amazed at how long the moth allowed us to observe it.

You'll notice in this photo the pinkish looking bare spot on it's back; that was what helped me to accurately identify it.
The following is a video we took showing how the moth would flutter it’s wings.
Shortly after we took this video the moth took to flight towards the woods in back. This particular moths flies rather slow and my first thought was, “Oh no, a bird will get it.” And sure enough down swooped a bird after it. Well, that bird was not going to eat MY moth that has just blessed me. So I took off “shooo-ing” the bird away just in time. The moth fluttered on down and landed at the base of a tree. My daughter and I decided we would go “rescue it” by putting it back in the safer place we found it. Well, God has other plans, He has taken care of this moth just fine. Ever heard of camouflage?

Can you see the moth?

Wow! Amazing!
We left that beautiful moth right where it was!
























