Morning-Glory Plume Moth, Emmelina Monodactyla

Day 187: They're not uncommon, but they certainly are unusual. I call them "airplane bugs," and some people refer to them as "T-moths," a reference to their characteristic posture. In fact, this critter is a Morning-Glory Plume Moth (Emmelina monodactyla), one of nearly 170 species of plume moth in North America. In this photo, the second pair of legs is concealed by the wings which are held at a 90-degree angle to the body. Open, these wings are divided into four or five narrow, feathery sections. The official common name reflects the host plant preferred by this moth; plumes have been used as biological controls for certain invasive weeds, although this one is native to the state.

Milady's Fan

Day 18: Most of my "macro" photography work isn't "macro" at all, not in the sense of using a close-up lens to make the shot. Without a remote flash, it can be challenging to keep the camera's shadow out of an image when you're only an inch from your subject. I prefer to stand back and zoom, and the Canon SX30 IS and its relatives offer some pretty impressive magnification. In this instance, my subject was about six feet from the camera position. I was zoomed in digitally at 95x (approximately equivalent to an 800 mm. lens). Milady's lovely lace fan measured less than half an inch from wingtip to wingtip. If you flip the image 90 or 180 degrees, it will be easier to recognize the subject as a tiny moth.