Moths

Don't you love it when a perfect blip lands on your lap, and then, even better, your iPod gives you an idea on how to tie it into to your musical photo challenge.

The lab has always made a good Moth trap. Previous visitors have been a Buff Tailed Moth, Eyed Hawk Moth, Ermine Moth and an Elephant Hawk Moth.

This little beauty was on the lab wall this morning, and is a Lime Hawk Moth. According to its webpage, it is not that common, but not scarce either. I shall be reporting this find to the Glamorgan Moth Recorder as I have never seen one before. I also did not know there was a county moth recorder until today.

The thought of a Musical May connection came an hour later, when my iPod played a Jethro Tull song. I would like to say it was off the Heavy Horses album, but it wasn't. It did trigger me to think that Ian Anderson had done a song about Moths, so I quickly checked, and he did! It also ties in with yesterdays blip, with the song playing on the iPod!

More pics: Lime Hawkmoth #1, Lime Hawkmoth #2, Released Back Into The Wild.

This blip forms part of the Musical Month Of May Challenge. Other people who have taken part in this blip can be found in this search box.

The leaded window opened to move the dancing candle flame
And the first Moths of summer suicidal came.
And a new breeze chatteredin its May-bud tenderness
Sending water-lillies sailing as she turned to get undressed.

And the long night awakened and we soared on powdered wings
Circling our tomorrows in the wary month of Spring.
Chasing shadows slipping in a magic lantern slide
Creatures of the candle on a night-light-ride.

Dipping and weaving flutter through the golden needle's eye
in our haystack madness. Butterfly-stroking
on a Spring-tide high.

Life's too long (as the Lemming said)
as the candle burned and the Moths were wed.
And we'll all burn together as the wick grows higher
before the candle's dead.

The leaded window opened to move the dancing candle flame.
And the first moths of summer suicidal came
to join in the worship of the light that never dies
in a moment's reflection of two moths spinning in her eyes.

Jethro Tull - Moths (c) 1978