The Steadfast Moth

  Son was doing a bit of work on the small deck on the back of the greenhouse.  He was extending part of it to make it easier to pick the scuppernong grapes that grow on an arbor just beyond the greenhouse.  Since I am so short, the grapes are just out of reach but a deck under the arbor will help immensely.  While he was working, he found a moth.  While there is nothing unusual about finding any critter on the Bayou, this moth was being particularly calm.  The critter was on one of the risers of the steps and even though, each of us had made several trips up and down those steps, the moth did not move.  It stayed motionless even through the hammering just a few feet from its resting point.  The critter had no inclination to take flight until nightfall so it trusted us to not harm it.  

  The moth in question is none other that a type of sphinx moth.  My tomato plants had dozens of caterpillars munching the leaves so I am assuming that this fine specimen is one of those.  While my garden looked atrocious for a while, I could not bring myself to smash the caterpillars and this moth is the result of my lackadaisical gardening. Which is ok by me except for the fact that now this very same critter (if a female) will most likely lay dozens of eggs on the garden plants and that cycle will start all over again.

  Late in the evening, I went to check on our friendly moth and was happy to find that the beauty went on its merry way.  Now, perhaps Son can finish the deck without worry of smashing a moth.  The Steadfast Moth halted construction of a much needed deck!