Anybody would be forgiven for thinking this rather attractive lepidoptera was a butterfly, but it is in fact a night-flying moth, and a fairly large one with a wingspan of up to 50mm (2in) across.
Photographs of Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) taken June 2014, rear garden, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2014. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
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Wow. A lovely moth. Like the coloring and stripes.
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Thank you, Peggy 🙂 It is one of my very favourite moths.
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very delicate and lovely..
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Thank you, Vicki 🙂 They are quite special to see. At night they are like fluttering pale ghosts.
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Gorgeous creature!
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Thank you, Eliza 🙂
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Stunning.
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Thank you, Niki 🙂 Here, during the summer months, out in the garden on a warm night you might glimpse two or three of these large and delicate moths fluttering about lighted windows.
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A delicate reminder of summer.
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The summer to come seems far off now, but I thought the same about Christmas, and yet it is almost upon us!
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It is a very beautiful moth. Your frist picture gives a good detail of why it is called ‘swallow-tailed’ moth. Perfect Pete!
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Thank you very much, Greta 🙂
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