The Helena Gum Moth (Four Macro Shots)

A couple of nights ago I saw my first Helena Gum Moth (Opodiphthera helena) for the spring. It came to the light of my moth trap and was quite obliging in allowing me take a few photographs. These large moths, of the Saturniidae family, have a wingspans of up to 17cm (About 6.7 inches).

( Submitted for @juliank daily photo contest )
_{( All photos, videos, and text on this blog are by @mostly.nature )}

_{Frontal view showing the large plumose antennae of the male.}

_{When disturbed they stretch their wings out revealing the large eye spots on the hind wings.}

_{For those with mottephobia, there is nothing scary about this moth. It's just like a big fluffy butterfly :-)}

_{Here it is on the back of my hand}

The photos were taken with a Canon 7D camera, a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens, and a Yongnuo Macro Ring Lite YN14EX Flash

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