Convolvulus Hawkmoth (1/1)

Lepidoptera: Sphingidae

Agrius convolvuli  

Eulogy to a Hawkmoth

Convolvulus Hawkmoths are recorded as being strong fliers. Perhaps this one tackled a flight a little too far.

Here it lays, far from the permanent range of its species, its long tongue, used for feeding from deep trumpet flowers while hovering at their mouths, lies unravelled at the edge of a pool of water which seeps from a chasm in Kata Tjuta (The Olgas of Central Australia).

Whether it has capitulated to thirst, exhaustion, old-age or for some other reason, here it lies, expired, a hawkmoth flying no further.