Moth

Description:

This is a large, super- gorgeous moth. Looked a very dark blue- black to my eyes when I photographed it at night under dim light but looks more brown in the photograph. Bold, thick white stripes across the body and thinner white down the edges give it an interesting look. It sat with wings stretched out...with a bit lost from one end too. Looks like it has taken a Bombycidae moth under its wing too.

Habitat:

The stairs leading to the dining hall at the Neora Valley Jungle Camp have bamboo poles from which lights are hung. This moth was on one such pole and had almost covered the width of the bamboo pole. It was high up and I was standing on tip toe on the nearest stair, pressed against a wall made up of stacked stones and crowded with bushes...and dreading that I may be disturbing a snake or whatever. But could not resist photographing this moth. The place is in Village Kolakham; a remote, forested area on the Indo-Nepal border.This place is situated at an altitude of 1868m in the Kalimpong Hills of Darjeeling District, on the fringe of Neora Valley National Park.

Notes:

Comes under Emerald Moths and allied category: Family Geometridae