Bernieh
north Queensland, Australia
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:39 am Post subject: A Touch Of Blue .... Yes, It's a Moth! |
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North Queensland Day Moth ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden )
I spotted this lovely creature in the garden just the other day. I promptly went off googling 'butterflies' and couldn't come up with a match. Thankfully my hubbie suggested it might be a moth ... and voila! I found out it's a North Queensland Day Moth.
North Queensland Day Moth ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden )
I've never heard of it or see one before but apparently it's Alcides metaurus, a large day-time flying moth that is native to my part of the Australian state of Queensland.
North Queensland Day Moth ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden )
It was a bit of a dull day so all it's wonderful colours didn't show up in these shots, but you do get a sense of the pretty blue on its wings.
North Queensland Day Moth ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden )
North Queensland Day Moth ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden )
North Queensland Day Moth ( photo / image / picture from Bernieh's Garden )
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eileen
 Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18528
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:22 am Post subject: |
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What a lovely set of photographs Bernieh. A really delightful and colourful moth - neither wonder you thought, initially, that it was a butterfly. It's the first time I've ever seen a blue moth. The fact that it flies by day is an added bonus. 
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Bernieh
north Queensland, Australia
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Eileen. Yes I've had to do a bit or research as I've never heard of day-flying moths before.
Apparently they are studied very little because most scientists study moths at night, for obvious reasons. The other interesting fact is that the day-flying moths all tend to be very colourful!!
I've lived up here all my life and have never seen this native species before! Maybe I just wasn't looking!
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5268
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:15 am Post subject: |
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It sure is a beauty... and some great photos too. Congrats on your new "find".
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Bernieh
north Queensland, Australia
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:49 am Post subject: |
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Sjoerd, I'm only truly beginning to appreciate just how lucky we are living where we do, out here near the bush, because we do get to see such a variety of beautiful creatures.
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FlowerFreak22
Regular Plants Contributor
Georgia
Posts: 650
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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When I first saw the pictures, I was sure it had to be a butterfly. It is very beautiful. Usually the moths around here are various colors of black, white, gray, and brown. Great pictures!
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Jon/FlowerFreak
"There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unknown, secret place." - Chief Luther Standing Bear
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Bernieh
north Queensland, Australia
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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FlowerFreak, I've never heard of day-flying moths before and when I started looking into the subject, I was amazed. Most of these moths have the most beautiful colours.
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kathyd
Southern New Jersey
Posts: 407
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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I love looking at pictures of beautiful moths and butterflies...yours are amazing. Thanks for posting them.
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Bernieh
north Queensland, Australia
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Kathyd, I'm glad you enjoyed the shots. I took quite a few and luckily most turned out well. I sometimes get lucky with my photos.
Calinromania, it's surprising to see such a colourful moth. I didn't realise there could be such lovely ones.
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Karrma
Western Washington State
Posts: 264
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful, and thoughtful. What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth? would be a good quiz question.
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Bernieh
north Queensland, Australia
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:33 am Post subject: |
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Karrma, a couple of the differences I do know is that a lot of butterflies have a hook at the end of their antenna and they hold their wings together up over their body when they're resting! I'm learning all sorts of new things I didn't know before.
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Bernieh
north Queensland, Australia
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:35 am Post subject: |
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Sjoerd, no we don't see those stunning Wrens up here. I was lucky enough to see one while we were travelling around Oz many years ago. I just love the name of them too ... the Superb Fairy Wren! What a great name.
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