Sunday 13 September 2015

On insects

We had a hummingbird hawk moth in the garden a few weeks ago. I'd never seen one before. It came flying towards me, like a tiny bird, wings humming audibly. Then it hovered by my red valerian (apparently one of its favourite plants) to suck up some nectar, and I realised what it was. Sorry I didn't have my camera handy, but here's a video of one from YouTube.



It's definitely insect time of year. Last week I was reading Maggie O'Farrell's wonderful book, 'Instructions for a Heatwave', when I had a nasty surprise at the top of page 183. Nothing to do with Maggie O'Farrell, I must add, who placed every single word in that book just perfectly. No, the surprise was of the eight legged variety.

 
 
Was it murder or accidental death? Suicide seems unlikely. I have disposed of the body in the hydrangea. Beasties are all very interesting, but mostly better in the garden.

15 comments:

Teresa Ashby said...

Those humming bird moths are wonderful to see aren't they. I have seen them down a lane near my house, but I've never seen a film of one. Fascinating. Thank you for posting it xx

joanne fox said...

Hi Teresa. Because I'd never seen one, I just assumed they only lived in the south. Mind you, our last winter was very mild, so perhaps they are becoming more widespread. They are on my radar now!

bazza said...

I can easily see how that moth got it's name!
Don't worry about the spider - the population of the planet will be subsisting on insects soon. (I know spiders aren't insects but you know what I mean).
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s fabulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

Joanna said...

Perhaps the spider was trying to spin a yarn too...

The humming-bird moth, like the Maggie O'Farrell novel, is exquisite. Thank you for posting the film. xx

joanne fox said...

Bazza, the possibilities of insect farming are very interesting, though still a dilemma for someone who doesn't eat meat.

Joanna, it's a fantastic novel isn't it. I think I will have to read it again. x

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Oooh, I'd never even heard of a hummingbird hawk moth - let alone seen one. I'm not fond of insects, but I'll make an exception for this one :0)

xx

joanne fox said...

Hi Suzanne. They're quite pretty in their own little way. Maybe Scotland is too cold for them?

Rosemary Gemmell said...

I'd love to see one of those moths, Joanne! And poor spider - but how did it get there? That'll teach them to get into a book.

joanne fox said...

Hi Rosemary - good question. It was a library book, actually, and people leave all sorts inside!

Keith Havers said...

Maybe it was looking for its dinner in the fly leaf.

joanne fox said...

No flies on you Keith!

Jenny Woolf said...

I saw one of those moths recently and it was fascinating. I spotted a bee in a spider web the other morning and photographed it, and it looked most unpleasant to be caught in a web, viewed from close up. I am glad to report it got free and flew away a couple of seconds after i took my pic but now I suppose I should feel sorry for the spider deprived of its meal! :)

joanne fox said...

I'd have had to free the bee! Nature is very strange - creatures eating each other all the time!

Patsy said...

I agree that wildlife is interesting - and better when it's outside.

joanne fox said...

Pasty, especially in autumn when there is so much of it about!