
Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia), North America’s largest native moth, somewhat beaten up from all the attention
We had a big outreach event over the weekend called Insectapalooza. It was a lot of fun; these kinds of events are always a great way to get people excited about insects (and nature in general). I spent the day near a bumblebee hive discussing the life history of bumblebees and other bees with hundreds of people. (I ended up calling bumblebees “winnie the pooh bees” because they build honey pots instead of honey combs.)
One of our rooms was a butterfly room. The kids love it, they can interact with butterflies and moths as they flit freely about. On one hand, I think this is great; the kids are super excited about them. But on the other hand, the insects do suffer a bit. These butterflies were from all over the world, so they can’t be released (and we are heading into winter so they would die if we did release them).
I asked for the opportunity to photograph them before they die (or in the case of the more traumatized ones, just after they did). I don’t know why, I guess I just wanted to preserve their beauty for a little longer.

A North American butterfly this time, the Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis); I like how offended he looks
I make a terrible entomologist sometimes.
Butterflies are very ephemeral things anyway. The adult stage does not usually last long, and they are bombarded by all sorts of threats and predators. But still, it is a bit sad to see them this way…
So here is my pictorial eulogy in honour of the beauty of these butterflies, that gave their lives to inspire a love of nature with the world.
wow. they are all so pretty. thanks for capturing & sharing their ephemeral beauty.
ps. super slow/late on pkg for you, but in the works!
Thank you! They are/were beautiful.
My favourite is the Cecropia Moth. I think what you are doing by opening up the wonders of nature to children is priceless. I copied adults by screaming and running away from spiders and insects. It took too long to realise the stupidity of it.
I do love that Cecropia Moth. They are so colourful!
I wonder if it would be better to teach the children to look but not touch them, so they don’t try to touch butterflies and moths in the wild. The Cecropia Moth is amazing.
Well, it is hard. The butterflies are loose in the room and the kids are loose and it is hard to control both!
The question mark is definitely my favorite.
He looks so…quizzical!