My weblog ELECTRON BLUE, which concentrated on science and mathematics, ran from 2004-2008. It is no longer being updated. My current blog, which is more art-related, is here.
Wed, 10 Aug, 2005
Imperial Moth
The Electron has recently received an upgrade: it can now have illustrations right in the body of the text, rather than as links you have to click on. The upgrade is not to the software, which has always had the capability, but to the web-knowledge of the writer, who isn't so capable.
Henceforth I can show you all sorts of things, whether it is related to physics, or art, or anything I find interesting. My first illustration will be of a creature which came to my sliding screen door, attracted by the light of my studio. It clung to the screen all night and didn't mind when I photographed it with a flash.
An online search on insect and moth identification (the Web at its best) identified this creature as an Imperial Moth, Latin name Eacles imperialis. This moth appears in summer and can be seen in urban areas flittering around street lights. It's quite big; this specimen has about a 4 inch (about 9 cm) wingspan.
I love the idea of an "imperial" moth. It conjures up visions of faerie rulers dressed in robes of maroon and gold brocade. I've always been fond of moths because they, like me, do their work at night. When I went to my terrace in the day, it was gone.
Posted at 2:30 am | link