02 | December | 2016 | Nature's Place

Creatures Of Night

Perched on a stick left out for the purpose. A lacewing takes portrait position.

*Click on the pictures, in this case bigger is better …

Furry fellow, frantic feeder … Anticipating position, speed is key to capture an image of this hyper active moth.

Salt and pepper moth, but not for eating … except by spiders maybe.

Monk beetle, because it has that hooded look. Wedge beetle, shy little thing.

What big eyes … all the better to see in the dark … On my finger.

A fermenting but still useful orange I staked in the garden attracted this big moth, about 3 inches long.

The proboscis is actually piercing the orange peel. When she finished I’m sure she was drunk, the way she blundered about.

Owl Fly, debris of an old butterfly meal evident. Picture of a rose in background to hide the clutter of branches.

They are predators, big 360′ eyes, hunting the same as a dragonfly. Just not as aerobatic.

Huntsman, prowling food debris in the garden pile – one of them.

A different one, front right leg is intact. Sitting for a shot. Amazingly, they can grow new legs.

Hawk moth? Attracted to the light that had a stick beneath it for the purpose. Provide and they come … sometimes.

Don’t and they surely won’t. Hawk moth and friend at rest, a hopper of some kind perhaps …

An occasional visitor to the same light. The only way to see some creatures is attract them.

Nature’s design … my nature. Thank you for your attention.

You have to go down the garden at night to see these creatures of the dark. You won’t know them otherwise.

Go quietly, disturbing as little as possible on the way, lest they take fright and disappear into the night.

The least disturbance can be enough that they are away, never to be seen again without aid.

And when they are done they are gone, time’s up. Gotta make the most of it or …

When you get close enough, never mind the mozzies, little beauties all.