Composite image of two adult Cecropia moths.  Left side: female raised from eggs obtained from the east coast of the USA.  Right side: wild Colorado male. — Composite image of two adult Cecropia moths. Left side: female raised from eggs obtained from the east coast of the USA. Right side: wild Colorado male.

The uglier duckling

July 20, 2015

Hans Christian Andersen's well-known tale, "The Ugly Duckling", is the story of an ugly juvenile bird that matures into a beautiful swan. But the transformation of moths and butterflies from caterpillars to adults is a much more dramatic and complex change than the development of a swan from "duckling" to adult.

From this:

Caterpillars of one of North America's largest moths, Hyalophora cecropia, hatching from eggs that are about 2mm in diameter. — Caterpillars of one of North America's largest moths, *Hyalophora cecropia*, hatching from eggs that are about 2mm in diameter.

To this in about 7 weeks:

Fifth instar caterpillar the Cecropia moth [5th instar means the caterpillar has molted 4 times]. — Fifth instar caterpillar the Cecropia moth [5th instar means the caterpillar has molted 4 times].

This metamorphosis from a tiny black hatchling to such a big canvas of pastel-colored green and blue is almost as amazing as what happens next in its life: after over-wintering for about 8 months in its cocoon, what emerges bears no resemblance at all to what came before. This caterpillar has grown from a tiny hatchling barely 3/8" long, shedding its skin four times to become larger than an adult's forefinger. From here, it will spin a cocoon, shed its skin inside the cocoon to become a pupa, and overwinter before emerging as an adult next summer.

And when it does emerge, it will be as a stunning beauty with startling eye spots, and a feathery/furry coat with colors from rose to gray to creme to cinnamon:

But what is most amazing is how complex and thorough are the changes these animals undergo from egg to adult. It takes more than a year to develop from a tiny egg, through five molts as a caterpillar, overwintering as a pupa inside its cocoon, and finally emerging as an adult moth. The adults exist to breed and produce eggs, and have no functional mouthparts for feeding. Having lived into their second summer, their lifespan as adults is only about a week after emerging from their cocoons.

Get closer

July 12, 2015

So-called "macro" photography - where the size of the photographic image is equal to or larger than the actual size of the object - allows us to see structure and color that is not clear to the naked eye.

Looking at the and adult Cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia.  We will zoom in on the black eye spot on near the tip of the wing at lower right. — Looking at the and adult Cecropia moth, *Hyalophora cecropia*. We will zoom in on the black eye spot on near the tip of the wing at lower right.

At this scale, the individual elements that make up the color pattern can start to be discerned.

Vincent van Gogh, Self Portrait, 1887.  Pointillistic painting technique. — Vincent van Gogh, *Self Portrait*, 1887. Pointillistic painting technique.

As more detail becomes apparent, it can be seen that the coloration on the moth wing is made of individual "particles", like a pointillistic painting where the color is applied in a pattern of dots or dabs with the tip of the painter's brush. In fact, these are tiny scales of various color that are attached to the clear membrane of the wing. Some of the scales are relatively broad and short, while others are more hair-like: long and narrow.

Getting in closer, the tiny scales that clothe the wings become visible.  About 10x magnification. — Getting in closer, the tiny scales that clothe the wings become visible. About 10x magnification.

Birds of the Desert

May 9, 2015

Amagisan Doro - original music and photo compilation

March 2, 2015

"Amagisan Doro", written 天城山道路 in Japanese, means "Amagi Mountain Road". "Amagi" itself is a place name written with the characters 天, meaning "sky" or "heaven", and 城, meaning "castle". The place is on the backbone of the Izu Peninsula of Japan that lies between Suruga Bay and the Pacific Ocean just south of Mt. Fuji, and about 100 km from Tokyo.

When I lived in Japan, I spent many happy hours hiking among the tall cedars, and along the stone terraces where the famous Japanese radish "wasabi" has been cultivated for hundreds of years. Wasabi requires plenty of cold, clean water, and the mountain streams that run down out of the highest points in Izu are diverted into cascading stone-walled beds. The wasabi paste that accompanies sushi and other Japanese fare is made by simply rubbing the root on a rough surface.

The Amagi area is also well-known as the setting for what is commonly regarded as Japan's most famous short story, The Dancing Girl of Izu [伊豆の踊り子].

The music of Amagisan Doro is peaceful and contemplative. It evokes the sounds of two classical Japanese instruments: the koto, a sort of wooden harp with strings that are plucked, and the shakuhachi, a wooden flute.

The music is accompanied by sequence of photos and videos I captured during my walks in those mountains. Enjoy!

Black Lake [elev. 10,620 ft] under an overcast sky.  The mountain at right is Chiefs Head Peak - the chief is reclining with his nose at the right edge and chin a bit to the left. — Black Lake [elev. 10,620 ft] under an overcast sky. The mountain at right is Chiefs Head Peak - the chief is reclining with his nose at the right edge and chin a bit to the left.

Mills Lake and Black Lake

October 13, 2014

Looking north towards the Mummy Range from Glacier Creek Trail.

The moon above a cloud bank lit by the rising sun.

The approach to Mills Lake, with McHenry Peak in the distance.  Black Lake lies just below McHenry Peak. — The approach to Mills Lake, with McHenry Peak in the distance. Black Lake lies just below McHenry Peak.

Planks provide a way to traverse a soggy marsh.

Looking back down Glacier Gorge from the edge of Black Lake.