Elephant Hawkmoth

Hi NJH,

Nice picture, but I don't see the relevance to model engineering?

Submit it to the monthly wildlife photo comp at [email protected] and you could win a badger mug

Neil (one of the photo judges)

Well Neil

Relevance to engineering? Well you are quite right - not a lot! I had been following a thread on Cylinder Boring Techniques which has turned out to be pretty much an exclusive discussion between Will and Clive. Much interesting info. - often digressing into bees and bee keeping - also interesting but again of limited application in model engineering! The thread diversified briefly with mention of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth - I've only ever seen just one in my garden but my neighbour called me across recently having discovered the elephant hawk moth in her garden and I took a few shots. I felt that, owing to the diversity already existing in the thread I would chance posting an image of this fairly unusual moth. I "do" lots of photography but insects are not really my thing and we get enough badgers down here already so, tempting though you offer is, I don't need picturesof them on a mug!

So then - I plead guilty but is a little diversion such a sin - I can,if you wish, justify it by turning it into a discussion on photography and use the techniques needed to photograph the moth to illustrate ways of improving workshop photography? ( Or not!! )

Regards

Norman

Edited By NJH on 18/08/2012 23:51:06

More power to you Norman as diversity is the spice of life, mundane is depressing and a little diversity goes a long way.

My interest in bees and wildlife is wide as I have spent a lot of my life travelling the world at HM's expense and have seen and enjoyed East Africa and the Far East and all its culture so I enjoy these diversions.

As to the bee keeping its purely Philanthropic and not a business though I help other bee keepers out. After 47 years as a bee keeper I have learned a lot about them and no longer leap about trying to make them do things they do not need to do as many bee keepers think they should.

Interestingly, people who eat bee products live on average 7 years longer !

Model engineering and my work is something else to fill my time and as I do not watch or care about sport and drink, as others do, I have plenty of time to spare !

Clive

I agree with stub put in a wildlife forum

Bob

Edited By Springbok on 19/08/2012 08:27:31

Well as a failed humming bird hawk moth photo taker, I like it.

We always used to get the HBHMs on the valerian outside my window. Every year. Wonderful to watch them. But not this. They are susceptible to cold winters and we are on the limits of their range.

Hopefully next year.

Many years ago when I was at school we found huge catipilar in the play ground and took it to the teacher he looked it up and said it was an elephant hawk moth catilpilar. Ever since that day I would have loved to have found the moth itself, so thank you very much for showing your picture it shows that they are still around.

Stew

here is an Empreor moth (Saturnia pavonia) we saw in our garden in SW France, about 4" over the

wing wing ti wing tips

Here is an unlikely-sounding website that Norman and others might enjoy.

[... obviously not your mug-of-tea, Neil.]

Dave's other obsession is Punk Rock ... but he knows a lot about Moths.

MichaelG.

Hi All

Hard to see and off the track....Off topic too

Red Bellied Black snake About 4 feet long seen while walking Balan Victoria.

Cheers Macka

No matter what I do this image will not scale. Link to the image will work below

http://www.mediafire.com/conv/7e207e165e133a6a6be4a1e13ffc319b77db37c51d891bae9672a5ca3d27153e6g.jpg

Edited By John McNamara on 19/08/2012 16:07:51

Edited By John McNamara on 19/08/2012 16:09:35

Hi John

Yes it does work but, by pasting a long URL like that into your post, you have caused the adverts to overlap the text on the first five posts. If you just type the word LINK  ( or something similar ), highlight it then press the icon that looks like a blue bubble on thebottom line of the reply box. A screen will pop up with a box asking for the URL of your link. Type or paste it there and all will work like one of Stewart's steam engines!

( Not a very user-friendly site I fear.)

Norman

Edited By NJH on 19/08/2012 18:01:07

Edited By NJH on 19/08/2012 18:02:42

Norman,

For info ...

The icon that "looks like a blue bubble" is, supposedly, a picture of Earth's globe with a chain below it.

[= create world-wide-web link]

The one next to it [greyed-out until you select something that is already hyperlinked] has the chain broken.

[= remove hyperlink]

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/08/2012 18:47:21

Hmm... if you're a model aircraft builder/designer, that elephant hawkmoth has an interesting approach to a delta wing, doesn't it? Engineering thoughts can be provoked in many ways!

Michael

I'm sure that's what you were told but even when I magnify it, it just looks like a blue bubble car - you can even see the wheels! - no doubt to facilitate a quick getaway.

Earth's Globe with a chain ? Bah!! - They will try to get us to believe anything these days!

Norman

Norman,

Thanks for that delightful interpretation !!

... It's brightened-up my day.

MichaelG.

Hi All

Tandem operated 4 cylinder Carrot fed fed engine under full steam.......

Cheers

Macka

What have I unleashed!

To be honest I was sneakily soliciting pictures, not complaining, as wildlife is my day job

Norman's pic knocks the spots off my elephant hawkmoth.

Neil

Neil,

bbcwildlife ... That's a very cheeky domain name !

[ BBC = Birmingham and Black Country ]

Well done !! . .. I'm surprised that "Aunty" let that one slip through her fingers.

MichaelG.