A Post About Pests

Lets talk about everyone's favorite creature: bugs. The small beings that inhabit this earth and without which the ecosystem of this planet would be drastically different. Many people kill any bug without a second thought, not thinking that though their lives are short and predestined by instinct, they have a tiny life of their own. Bugs are a important being on this planet just as much as every other living thing. They often go unappreciated and dismissed as annoyance in our wrongfully claimed superior lives.

An Imperial moth

I can say that one of my favorite things about summer is the moths. The powdery bugs that disgust most people and are only seen as pests that gnaw holes in material things. To me, however, moths are beautiful and amazing little creatures. Though they only live for a short while, they transform from homely caterpillars into flying creatures with beautiful patterns. During the summer at work, when I would step outside for a smoke break, I would wander around the building, looking for moths clinging to the brick walls. Oftentimes I found many of the same, small moth, however, my search always turned up a new and magnificent moth which I had never seen or even knew existed.

A Giant Leopard moth

Throughout my late night summer searches for moths, I've found many beautiful and stunningly patterned little creatures (and a couple big ones), all of which I proceeded to learn more about. I found Luna moths, Polyphemus moths, Giant Leopard moths, and a large yellow-brown moth known as the Imperial moth, among others. I can say that throughout my searches, my most memorable find was the Polyphemus moth. As large as your hand, perhaps a little larger even, Polyphemus moths are one of the few giant moths found in this area of Michigan.

The Polyphemus moth

Early in the morning on third shift, I saw what I first thought was a bat, flying around the lamppost at work. I stood and watched it until I finally realized it was a moth, and a large one at that. I waited hopefully and patiently for it to land. Eventually it did, resting on the warm summer pavement under the soft glow of the light. I approached it, and saw its magnificent beauty; the moth had a large wingspan with brown and tan swirls, and large yellow eye-shaped spots similar to that of an owl moth. I carefully prepared to take a picture of my find, and suddenly the moth flew off the ground, landing on my stomach, resting there until I started moving. I admit that it startled me quite a bit, however, though I got no picture of it, it was an amazing experience with a smaller part of nature that often goes unappreciated.