Moon Moth

Another moth sighting on the barn, but this time a Luna Moth.  So very, very beautiful isn't  it?  I had spotted this one on the side of the barn, not very high up, on my way to let the chickens out and ran back inside to get my camera. 

You can see here how she looked while clutching the screen window.  Like a little fighter jet, streamlined.

But then when she opened those wings, OH!  The beauty!  Her wings were slightly translucent and one of the most beautiful colors I've ever seen.  Nobody out-paints Mother Nature.

Fearing that the chickens would find and subsequently eat her, I put her on my finger so I could  moved her to a tree in one of the overgrown gardens.  She stayed for a second then fluttered to the ground, unable to fly.  I'm guessing she was brand new.  According to Wiki:  "Adults emerge from their cocoons in the morning. Their wings are very small when they first emerge and they must enlarge them by pumping bodily fluids through them. During this time, their wings will be soft and they must climb somewhere safe to wait for their wings to harden before they can fly away. This process takes about 2 hours to complete."

I caged my fingers over her and carried her carefully over to the garden and sent her off with good wishes.

That furry body!  Those antennae! Those wing spots! (click on the photos for a closer look)

This is the first time we've seen a Luna Moth here and I feel truly lucky to have had the moment.

I hope you all have a moment of awe courtesy of Mother Nature today.