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Insect with a HUMAN-LIKE eye

© Michelle Alton

Insect with a HUMAN-LIKE eye

Uploaded: January 29, 2013

Description

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Hummingbird Moths (genus: Hemaris) are abundant in the summer meadow at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.
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I shot this in July of 2011; the moth is enjoying Monarda pollen. Take a look at its eye. Not the typical insect eye, as far as I know. Kind of spooky.
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[Note 4Feb2013: While reading "Life Everlasting," a book about Nature's death-to-life cycle, I've just stumbled on the fact that "eye" of the hummingbird moth is, indeed, false. Thanks to author Bernd Heinrich]



Exif: F Number: 6.3, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/400 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 125, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 270.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D

Comments

Michelle Alton January 29, 2013

I dunno...Perhaps what appears to be an eye is not an eye at all! #1511774

Robert R. Goodman January 29, 2013

Hi Michelle,Awesome close up my friend.The fake eye is so it can fool predator.If you looks at them from top they look like a bird.We see a lot of them out here!!!! #10543897

Colette M. Metcalf January 29, 2013

Nice capture, Michelle!! #10543965

Karen Bacon January 29, 2013

A great shot Michelle! I have tried many,many times to photograph one of these guys with very little success. #10543997

Jack Ryan January 29, 2013

Excellent "action" image of this very difficult to shot creature...well done. #10544026

Val Feldman level-deluxe January 29, 2013

I never knew the "eye" was fake...Know the caterpillar of the hawk moth has "fake eyes" to ward off predators (and that's scary looking enough!)...will have to do some further research on this...not to doubt Bobby, who knows his "stuff" for sure! What's weird to me is the "eye", fake or otherwise, always seems to be looking right at you! And he's sure giving you the "eye", Michelle - difficult to capture those hyper-whirring wings and darting body - great shutter work. (Where's "Tex" when you need him??:) :) #10544210

Monnie Ryan January 29, 2013

First time I saw one of these it nearly scared me out of my wits - but they're really quite interesting. Great job capturing this one! #10544254

David Phalen January 29, 2013

Outstanding action capture with excellent colors and details!! That "eye" certainly is creepy!! #10544256

David Phalen January 29, 2013

Outstanding action capture with excellent colors and details!! That "eye" certainly is creepy!! #10544315

Mike Clime January 29, 2013

Nice capture and a cool looking moth! I have never seen one of these. PS - at least they didn't take my cameras and guns. #10544374

MELODIE C. ROBERTS January 29, 2013

Not too keen on that eye but it sure is an excellent capture and has us all thinking!!

Wonderful work #10544428

Robert R. Goodman January 29, 2013

Hi Micelle,I might be wrong on that.Maybe it's a butterfly I'm thinking about #10544431

Robert R. Goodman January 29, 2013

Hi Michelle,I might be wrong on that.Maybe it's a butterfly I'm thinking about #10544436

Emile Abbott level-deluxe January 29, 2013

Exquisite detail and focus Michelle. #10544546

Claudia Kuhn level-classic January 29, 2013

Wonderful capture Michelle. I get these at my butterfly bushes sometimes in the summer #10544649

Ken Smith level-classic January 29, 2013

That's an interesting bird...er moth. Cool shot, Michelle! #10544748

Terry Cervi level-deluxe January 29, 2013

They sure are interesting little creatures and his eye does look human-like. I've only seen them a couple of times and did get some shots myself. Now you've got me interested in looking for the folder to take a look at their eyes. Nice catch, Michelle! #10545001

Ann Coates level-classic January 29, 2013

That moth would scare the hell out of me. A fantastic capture of it Michelle. #10545075

Robert K. Bemus level-classic January 29, 2013

It would only scare me if it winked...great find and capture, Michelle!! #10545192

Alex T. Mizuno February 02, 2013

Wow, this is an amazing capture Michelle! I've never seen anything like this. You're right, its eye is not like other bugs at all. Mother nature is beyond our imagination. #10549901

Laura E. Swan level-classic February 06, 2013

I wonder who/what it is trying to ward off? What predator it would have that could see the eye? It works well on spooking the humans so maybe that is who?! We both posted eye's in nature today! COOL! :D

Amazing image and bug, Michelle. I like this bug, too. It's not as creepy as that other bug. HeeHee! :)

-Laura :D #10556947


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