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Mighty Oleander Hawk Moth

By: Debbie39 Comments

Mighty Oleander Hawk Moth

Moths are up there with spiders and locusts when it comes to my unease of them. My fear of spiders is totally irrational, but it’s something that if I focus (and don’t turn my back on it) I can overcome.

My unease around moths, locusts and grasshoppers stems from their erratic and unpredictable movement. So you can imagine my initial horror when an unidentifiable shadow on our bedroom wall turned out to be this mighty oleander hawk moth! I only noticed it in the early morning half-light as I was drying off after a shower. At first, I didn’t take too much notice, I have no idea why as it was a definite shadow on the wall.

When it occurred to me that the shadow really shouldn’t be there I took a closer look… And froze… I had shared the night hours with a moth the size of a small fighter jet. It was massive (I kid you not). It’s a good job oleander hawkmoths don’t prey on small dogs… Or do they? I have no idea! Maybe sleeping under the bed isn’t such a daft idea, after all, Alphie!

Of course, the next thought was where’s my camera before I realised that it was too dark to get a photo (I don’t like flash photography). But my husband was sleeping and I had to go to work. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be!

Oh, but it was!… When I got home from work the bedroom was still closed up (only mad dogs and Englishmen open up the house during the day in this heat and luckily my husband is South African).

So What Did I Do?

I grabbed my camera, of course!… And opened up the shutters in the bedroom to let light in (that’s the English blood in me coming out).

I was happy to see that the mighty oleander moth hadn’t moved a wing. After several attempts at taking a photo whilst balanced on a ladder (the things we do to get photos), all the while being very aware that if the moth moved a nasty accident was likely to occur, I wasn’t happy, so I asked the husband to carefully move it.

My heart was pounding as he carefully slipped a sheet of very strong paper under Mr Moth, but the moth didn’t move. To be able to see it up close was quite fascinating.

My Sunday Photo

oleander hawk moth

From wing tip to wing tip was around four inches and the body was the size of a not so small mouse. It’s not a surprise to know that the oleander hawk moth is also known as a green army moth too. Just look at those markings!

oleander hawk moth

Oleander hawk moths actually migrate across Europe and Africa. Looking at it from this angle you can see the aerodynamics, this creature is built to fly… Luckily not whilst it was sharing a room with me!

oleander hawk moth

This may not be the best photo as I cropped right in on the top photo, but I had to show you the velvet-like covering on its fat body. I almost got the urge to stroke it, but one movement from the creature and I would have died.

If I’d have known I was sharing my bedroom with huge moth I may not have slept so soundly!
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After our little photo shoot, he was put safely outside and as I shut the bedroom back up I saw him getting ready to fly off. Now that I did not want to see. It’s the things my nightmares are made of!

Have you seen one of these magnificent moths before? 

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About Debbie

Hello, I’m Debbie (also known as ChirpyDebs) and thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet. Now the children are all grown up I’m happiest when I’m out with the dogs or hiking a trail with my camera in hand. My blog is where I like to share photographs showing the wild beauty of Zakynthos that most people don’t get to see, recipes and other seemingly random things that come to mind.

Comments

  2. 36

    Tamara says

    WOW, you have really mastered the macro lens. And sure enough - you made something I don't usually think is beautiful.. look beautiful!
    Reply
  3. 38

    Jen says

    Wow! Up close he is a little creepy looking, but pretty at the same time. His design is intriguing. I had a moth a few winters ago that tried to crawl in my nose while I was sleeping so they are forbidden in the bedroom as well :)
    Reply
    • 39

      Debbie says

      Hi Jen, I've never seen such a detailed or large moth before. Which is just as well as I would never open the windows at night! Eueeewww up your nose? Glad I never knew that before! Saying that there was no way Mr Army moth was fitting up my nose, it was just too large and I don't have a small nose. Thank you for popping by. xx
      Reply
    • 41

      Debbie says

      Hi Suzanne, it was a stunner, but I'd rather not have shared my space with it either. It's still hot so the windows are open until I go to bed, but I now scout the room for invaders... Of course, my son would have to be the one to remove any from the room. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 43

      Debbie says

      Hi Nikki, it was. I didn't see it fly off, but I have no doubt it had engines to get it airborne. Those eight-legged things come indoors on our logs for the fire, but as much as they set me on edge I don't like the thought of them ending up on the fire... Did you ever read Charlotte's web? Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 45

      Debbie says

      Hi, I was uneasy about being close to it too. If it had moved quickly I think my heart would have stopped! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  9. 49

    Anne says

    What a beautiful creature! I'm not afraid of moths but my husband is. I get rid of the moths and he gets rid of the spiders. I don't think I'd like one really huge though. I read about a butterfly that was huge and thought I would hate to meet one despite my love of butterflies. However, I'm quite happy to stand in the garden on warm evenings and watch the bats flying around, sometimes they fly right in front of me and I'm not afraid at all! Well done for getting such gorgeous photos of a creature you are afraid of. Maybe you are braver than you give yourself credit for. #mysundayphoto
    Reply
    • 50

      Debbie says

      Hi Anne, I could appreciate the moths' beauty, but there was no way I was going to move it. I would have been worried about accidentally damaging it if it moved. I have a similar sort of deal with my husband, he deals with spiders, moths and jumpy things and I deal with rodents, frogs and snakes (not that I go too near snakes, he can't bear to look at them)... I trust a bats sonar far more than a moths ability to judge space, but I'm still not sure I would stand to close to where bats are swooping. Saying that though my husband would never go near bats, his fear of them is on a level with my fear of spiders... My curiosity does, at times, outdo my fear of things. It does take focus and I have to ignore the voice in my head, but I would kick myself for missing something for a few minutes of irrational fear... I draw the line to getting in a shark cage, some fears are there for a reason! Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
    • 52

      Debbie says

      Hi Kim, thank you. There was no way I was going to let my unease get the better of me as it was one striking looking moth. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  11. 53

    NotmyyearOff says

    Oh my goodness those are some amazing shots. Very well done even though your jump was threatening to jump out of your chest 😄 I would have been exactly the same as you with the nerves. But it looks so textured doesn’t it? Amazing!
    Reply
    • 54

      Debbie says

      Hi Tas, sometimes our curiosity has to outshine our fear and this was one of those times. I could see its body was quite furry, but it was only when looking at the photos that I could appreciate just how furry it was. It was an amazing creature. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  13. 57

    Carlee says

    Wow! What a fascinating creature! It really does look like an army fighter plane and HUGE too! I don't think we have moths that size in my area. I would have been nervous too, but my what a shot you ended up with. It's awesome!
    Reply
    • 58

      Debbie says

      Hi Carlee, it was by far the largest moth I've ever seen, but an amazing creature to really look at. Its eyes which you can't really see in the photo were like mini dark pearls and quite visible. I did wonder if it was looking at me with the same fascination. I am glad it stuck around and like to think it's off enjoying doing whatever moths like to do. Thank you for dropping by. xx
      Reply
  14. 59

    Victoria Welton says

    What a great capture! It is amazing what photography does to help overcome your fears - it has done the same for me. There is such detail in these. Beautiful job Debbie :) #MySundayPhoto
    Reply
    • 60

      Debbie says

      Hi Victoria, my camera has helped me face many a fear, the need to get 'that' photo is just too great sometimes. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  15. 61

    Plutonium Sox says

    Wow, what an amazing creature! I actually really like moths although they do sometimes make me jump. Years ago, I was engaged to a burly RAF pilot. One day, we were in a hotel when a moth flew into the room. He cowered on the bed screaming like a little girl while I picked it up in my hands and put it out. We didn't stay together for long after that, the illusion was shattered! Nat.x Plutonium Sox recently posted...A family day out at Ford and Etal in NorthumberlandMy Profile
    Reply
    • 62

      Debbie says

      Hi Nat, it was quite striking. Moths always put me on alert, but even when the house is open we rarely get them in at night...I love that story! A big roughy tough military man!... I did have a similar experience with some bats getting into the house where we stayed in South Africa, except it was my husband who was hiding behind me and squealing, it was so funny. He gave me a fishing net to try and catch them too. All it took was an open door and out they flitted... By that time I quite fond of my husband so stuck with him. If only I'd known before. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  16. 63

    Fiona Cambouropoulos says

    Oh my goodness it is huge! I didn't realize until you gave the dimensions just how big it was. I love the markings and you can really see the texture of the body on the zoom in. Well worth all that ladder balancing!
    Reply
    • 64

      Debbie says

      Hi Fiona, it was huge. I imagine if it was kept as a pet you'd need a licence it was that big! I've seen smaller birds. I can't imagine the fuss I would have caused had it landed on me in the night. The noise would have made Lagana sound quite in comparison. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  17. 65

    ClearlyBex says

    OMG my hands and feet just got all clammy! I cant stand objects that fly, butterflies and moths are right high up on that list! *cringe!* That said, what a fantastic amount of detail you managed to pick up! #mysundayphoto
    Reply
    • 66

      Debbie says

      Hi Bex, I felt like that when I realised what the shadow on the wall was! It was so striking though I couldn't not photograph it, I would have been curd=sing myself for the missed opportunity. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  18. 67

    John Adams says

    Wow, just wow Debs. I am so pleased you got a ladder, took a deep breath and took these images. They are stunning, especially the close up. Your knowledge of the oleander is also very impressive. What amazing camouflage they have!
    Reply
    • 68

      Debbie says

      Hi John, the ones I took balanced on a ladder weren't so good, but you could have had a laugh if someone had thought of taking a photo of me up the ladder. These photos were taken on the bed after husband moved it. When I saw how impressive looking the moth was I had to look it up and it wasn't hard to find. There are something like over 1400 different species of hawk moths and all rather striking in appearance. Interestingly a while back I found a massive caterpillar (a good 6 inches) in the garden, I'm not sure why I never photographed it as it was bright green and had strange markings, but it turns out it was probably the caterpillar of the oleander hawk moth getting ready to burrow into the ground and pupate... When something fascinates me I get a proper thirst for knowledge on the subject. It can be quite painful if I don't quench that thirst. Thank you for dropping by. xx
      Reply
    • 70

      Debbie says

      Hi Tara, he certainly was I'm sure if he had flown into a window he would have broken it. If it had moved I would have been squealing and flapping, believe me. I've now started latching the shutters when I open up to let air in. As stunning as it was I could not share another night with such a creature. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply
  20. 71

    Sarah MumofThree World says

    Oh my goodness! I would have died if I'd seen him. I have no problem at all with spiders, I quite like them. I don't understand how people can be afraid of them. But, like you, I do get freaked out by moths! It is definitely the way they flap around. Shudder! Sarah MumofThree World recently posted...Silent Sunday 26.8.18My Profile
    Reply
    • 72

      Debbie says

      Hi Sarah, believe me when I realised what it was I nearly did. I've tried rationalising with myself about my fear of spiders, but it's almost like my brain knows I'm seeing some small relatively harmless creature, but my imagination is seeing something else with exaggerated features (fangs) of the tiny little creature I'm seeing. It's definitely the flapping of the moths, but it's strange as butterflies don't worry me. Thank you for stopping by. xx
      Reply

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