Alpenglow Images

Nature & Landscape Photography by Greg Russell
Alpenglow Images | Nature and Landscape Photography by Greg Russell

 

 

 

Sphinx Moth

Sphinx moths are a group of moths comprising several species. This one, a white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), is common in southern California, especially on warm spring evenings. In fact, I photographed this individual one morning as it warmed up to fly. These moths are large enough that they must flap their wings rapidly to generate sufficient body heat to fly. This phenomenon--known as periodic endothermy--is illustrated well in these images, because the moth is rapidly beating its wings, generating a comparably large amount of body heat.

Sphinx moth flapping its wings Sphinx moth flapping its wings
Image #204 Image #205
Sphinx moth flapping its wings
Image #206