POLLEN GOT ME DOWN.............. ;0(

Well at least it won't be quite as bad today.

The rain here will settle it a bit ;0)

Fuzzy Gray Moth

Nature Insect Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Good AfterMoon Miss Luna!

Ahhhh..... to be MOONED by a beautiful insect.

Honestly, I don't really know if this moth is a miss, ms, mrs or it even might be a mister!? Anyway it's definitely a moon shot ;0)

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Luna Light..... imperfect beauty.

Luna Moth - Evening Rest In Holly Tree

Actias luna?

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Guess what I am ;0)

I apologize.

This IS an easy one for all you Nature Lovers out there ;0)

(click on photograph to supersize)

Just another intricate design by Mother Nature! Thanks Adrienne for sharing this photo with us. These last few weeks I have been researching macro lenses and hope to purchase one very soon for my Canon Rebel XT. I am looking forward to exploring nature even closer..... REAL "upfront & personal." So Exciting!

Nature Art by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Underwing - Catocala vidua - Large moth found in Richmond, Virginia woodland habitat

(click on images to supersize)

Resting on a Holly Tree while.....

.....sipping moisture off the bark.

Warming on a chilly day.


Can't see me on this Oak Tree! Yeah right.


Stretching ;0)

Only an expert entomologist could properly identify this one but I believe I came close..... hope so anyway ;0) If not maybe someone will let me know?

Update: Thanks to this site http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/catvidua.htm I have an identification based on these images...... Thanks Bill Oehlke for your generous help!

Bugguide.net has more Underwings here: http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=catocala+

Photos by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

"Moth Pupa" Oil Painting framed to benefit local Wildlife Rehabbers ARK / SOLD via silent auction at Rockwood Park in Chesterfield, Virginia

Entomologists and Nature Lovers will adore this painting! It is very detailed and painted directly from collected leaves, rocks, moss, walnut, sticks, lichen, log and let's not forget the pupa! All sat on my palette while being painted. (The pupa kept annoying me by moving though) It was actually quite fun to wander through the woods to locate each and every object.....except the pupa which can be blamed for starting the whole project.

See the Step - by - Step progression of this painting here: http://paintingadaycarolynhietala.blogspot.com/2007/06/moth-pupa-oil-painting-step-by-step.html

UPDATE: SOLD

This painting began my Nature Art Paintings series. More are being created to be shown in this blog. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have in creating them!

Thanks for your interest.

Carolyn Hietala

With assistance from a local entomologist we are 99% certain the subject of my oil painting is a Catalpa Sphinx Moth pupa! Will paint the moth too.

It has been almost a year since I collected this pupa to use in one of my paintings.

Yes it is still alive and moving......amazing!

Since I moved it indoors just before winter of 2005 it didn't receive the drop in temperature necessary to trigger it's emergence in spring.

Am so sorry I didn't find that out sooner as I have impatiently been waiting to paint the moth!

Now it will go into the refrigerator for two weeks and if all goes well....... immortalized in oil paint on canvas soon!

Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well. I surely hope it is able to emerge.
Carolyn Hietala