Play dead...

Play Dead - no, not the dark-sounding, slightly gothic band from the early eighties. No, more the act of fooling the moth Man that he isn't gonna get that vital photo cuz the moth wants him to think it's dead!

Some of the big Silk Moths do it...but none are more accomplished at this devilish performance than the moth below...


This is the Canadian Owlet in the process of "playing dead". It looks like a crumpled Oak leaf - quite fantastic really.


And this is what the snouty devil looks like when it eventually comes back to life - also looking like a crumpled Oak leaf!! But look at those fine whitish vermiculations...

BTW - does anyone out there apart from me actually remember the band Play Dead??? I did see some young lad on Toronto Island this spring wearing an old and tattered Play Dead t-shirt (depicting a skeletonized grim reaper - of course)...so I guess there is at least one other who likes that dark gothic guitar sound...I think I may have to dig deep into my old tape collection and play that old chestnut "Return to the East".