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stunned/dying moth?

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  • 12-07-2011 1:24pm
    #1
    Buddinplant
    Registered Users Posts: 126 ✭✭


    so on my morning walk, i come across an elephant hawk moth ( love love love the colouring!) on the footpath, but it wasnt moving and no resistance when i moved it from path to railings of overgrown garden next to path. But plenty of indiginant leg swinging when it left my hand.

    it being at 8 am in the morning i was thinking he/she was on the way out, or was it just stunned... pure curiousity


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    #2
    Mothman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    Possibly neither.
    They are nocturnal, resting by day. It takes a lot of energy to warm up its wing muscles for flight, so usually, unless really provoked they stay still.
    A moving moth attracts predators.

    Moths don't get stunned in the way a bird might. Perhaps there was an issue with it because a path would not be a typical resting place for this species


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    #3
    Buddinplant
    Registered Users Posts: 126 ✭✭Buddinplant


    Glad to hear it, was thining it was a mighty pity if it was his last day, as he was / still is only Elephant Hawk moth i've come in contact with... have met the caterpillars.


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