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Sphinx Moth Caterpillar
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Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

by SandyRichardsBrown

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted March 23, 2017354 views5 comments
Interesting and colourful caterpillars - they don't just nibble on the flowers, they PLUCK the blooms with force and then eat them.
These guys are about 5 inches long, and plump, when grown, as this one is.
The plant is 7 inches tall, so I was flat on my stomach to get this angle. Getting too old and creeky for that!

Anza-Borrega desert, Southern California
2017:03:15 11:36:45
D800
70-180mm macro @ 180mm
1/1600 sec, f/5.6
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -1/3
ISO: 500
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 23, 2017 at 12:05 PM
The details are great here, Sandy, and the colors in the cat. stand out well.  I also like the curved body pose.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 23, 2017 at 6:16 PM
Very colorful creature, Sandy.  Interesting that your subject and BG have similar light values and color which can be difficult to make the subject stand out. So it's good that you have a defocused BG to isolate the subject.  I love the cool body patterns, like some ancient writing.  My only suggestion is to align the caterpillar more squarely with your focal plane since the bottom end is less sharp. I personally don't mind that the plant is not sharp, knowing the restrictions are tricky in such situations.  Judging from the fast shutter speed, I might have stopped down a bit more or set up at a lower position if possible.
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 24, 2017 at 8:37 PM
Beautiful color and great detail and sharpness. The depth of field is right on causes the subject to pop from the background. 
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on March 25, 2017 at 10:18 PM
Sandy: Impressive critter on a very fine perch. Nice find and a solid capture.>=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on April 6, 2017 at 3:47 PM
Nice clean shot of this sphinx caterpillar Sandy. I love that red horn. I was out there about the same time you were this year and saw these guys all over. I could not believe how much they were moving, and as you say plucking the foliage. I think they are Hyles lineata, or the White-lined Sphinx. There are going to be tons of the adults later on this spring/summer.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments