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Photo#1069381
Spring green cryptic - Actias luna - male

Spring green cryptic - Actias luna - Male
Heritage Valley, Allamakee County, Iowa, USA
May 16, 2015
This is the very first ever Luna moth that I've seen in the wild, (not just at lights, or on the side of a house).

Images of this individual: tag all
Spring green cryptic - Actias luna - male Spring green cryptic - Actias luna - male Spring green cryptic - Actias luna - male

Moved
Moved from Frass.

 
Why
did you move these back into the guide? The fact that an insect can't be seen while on the opposite side of the leaf isn't noteworthy and certainly doesn't help a "guide". The fact that people were astounded that they couldn't see something on the other side of a leaf simply means that they don't understand object permanence. These don't show the bug well (due to it being totally obscured) and don't follow the rule of cropping images until the bug fills the frame. This is a picture of a fern not a moth.

 
I'm sorry -
I should have explained my reasoning, rather than just moving it.

I talked to MJ about her decision to include this photo, and agreed with her ideas about it.

I think it's important for people to realize that moths - and other insects - won't always be obvious and easy to see. To see and appreciate them, we need to look harder, and notice small indications of their presence. The Luna isn't hidden, but you have to look harder to see it. I think it's interesting that this series shows what the insect looks like with a casual glance, and then closer, and then the last one is the close up - the way we usually see Lunas pictured.

I realize that we can't do this will all the insects in the guide, but I think it's nice to have a few examples.

Frassed
Moved from Luna Moth. Not needed in the guide

 
Actually I disagree.
The majority of adult Luna photos show them on contrasting man-made backgrounds. Put up lights and see them come. Whereas green on green, out in nature, they are harder to see. I was with a group of folks and after showing them the plant and asking if they could see the moth, no one could, until I pointed at it on the underside of the fern. What serves this moth well in the woods, does not on lighted walls.

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