david korte photographs

A Saturniid moth mysteriously found its way into our patio on a cool morning and was laying eggs on a paper lantern. These moths are some of the largest moths in Africa. This particular specimen had a wingspan of 16 centimeters. Their wings have variable patterns, shapes and colors. The pink caterpillars found in camp recently turn into these beautiful moths.

I removed the moth to vegetation outside of the patio, but later found it had returned. So I carried it to a nearby tree, where it shivered up to speed before launching into the canopy.