Cecropia Moth + 9 Moths in Slow Motion!

9 moths species + 1 caddisfly captured in slow motion flight! All of these insects were filmed at 6,000fps and what you are seeing is being played back at 30fps.
00:00 - Cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia - family Saturniidae
01:25 - Plume moth - family Pterophoridae
02:13 - Red-bordered Emerald, Nemoria lixaria - family Geometridae
02:57 - One-spotted Variant, Hypagyrtis unipunctata - family Geometridae
03:31 - Pepper & Salt Geometer or Peppered moth, Biston betularia - family Geometridae
04:47 - Ailanthus Webworm Moth, Atteva aurea - family Attevidae
05:28 - Black-dotted Spragueia Moth, Spragueia onagrus - family Noctuidae
05:52 - The Hebrew, Polygrammate hebraeicum - family Noctuidae
06:17 - White Miller Caddisfly, Nectopsyche sp. - order Trichoptera (not a moth)
06:43 - Arched Hooktip, Drepana arcuata - family Drepanidae
Still image credits:
Cecropia moth caterpillar - Michael Hodge CC BY
Geometrid inchworm - Dr. Matt Bertone Flickr (used with permission)
Peppered moth (white) - Tim Alps Flickr CC BY
Peppered moth (melanic) - Ben Sale Flickr CC BY
Peppered moth (melanic) - Jerzy Strzelecki Wikimedia CC BY
The Hebrew - Dr. Matt Bertone Flickr (used with permission)
Arched Hooktip - Dr. Matt Bertone Flickr (used with permission)
Matt Bertone’s Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/7679027...
Recommended reading for more about natural selection of the peppered moth:
Cook L. M., Grant B. S., Saccheri I. J. and Mallet J. 2012. Selective bird predation on the peppered moth: the last experiment of Michael Majerus. Biology Letters 8: 609-612. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.1136
Music licensed from soundofpicture.com

[@ashleyk.wilson]

You are 100% forgiven for not moving the paint brush... that plume moth was fabulous!

[@Staladus]

That first one is literally Mothra

[@karlmuster263]

I looked up a picture, and they do have the same abdomen pattern. I wonder if they used this species as inspiration.

[@godzilla_fan_13]

@karlmuster263 Iirc atlas moths, a closely related species (both are in the family Saturnidae) might have been used as inspiration, but Mothra herself was more inspired by domestic silk moths iirc.

[@milliethechicken5725]

I had a pet Polyphemus moth that I named Mothra she is such a bug cutie I have a video of her go to my channel if you want to see her❤

[@SaimonBhattarai2]

I knew I wasn't the only one

[@erinhowell1155]

As an artist, these videos are fascinating and inspiring. The way the wings move is just amazing. I'll never get tired of watching these ❤

[@tracybowling1156]

Those moths are so wonderful! And, the paintbrush didn't bother me. It helped to show the size of the moth. 😊

[@sophiewooloo]

there's something really profound and beautiful about these videos, that isn't just the marvel of incredible insects. it's the relaxing visuals of slow motion, the delicate music, and the writing too. something about: "this family is named after their famous inch-worming caterpillars, that seem to measure the earth with each one of their looping steps" moved me almost to tears. i love your stuff. thank you

[@mikecappa1094]

If I was ever going to ' be something', i would be an Entomologist. Thank you for all your wonderful work .

[@nunyabznz]

The paintbrush did not deter. Absolutely beautiful!

[@OldSchool1947]

Your (incredible) footage demonstrate the FLEXIBILITY of moth wings! I had NO idea!

[@hyliaphora-cecropia]

YEAHHH CECROPIA MOTH!!! What a beautiful creature, easily my favorite saturniid! Thank you for the lovely footage!

[@VixenArt3]

OMG I was just re-watching all your butterfly and moth videos the other day, and now there's a new one!!! YAYYY, you are the best!

[@jeffk412]

fantastic work! and I love the color backgrounds, the way they are gently lit to compliment these flying beauties!

[@AsioEntomo]

YES! I've been hoping (and asking in the comments) for a plume moth for ages! The shots are awesome, regardless of a missing leg and the paintbrush. Thank you for more lovely moth content!

[@Vyz3r]

So beautiful. Moths are so underrated.

[@amendersc1650]

I can never have enough of pretty slow motion moth flight

[@robertmacpherson9044]

I watch almost all videos at 2X speed..... except yours, which I languish in.

[@RYKAZARD]

Me toooooo

[@RYKAZARD]

My atenshon span is 😢

[@aidenwallin3523]

I love Cecropia moths! We found one in September of 2019, and overwintered it until it emerged in May of 2020. We named her Randelle, and she became our CoViD-19 spring home science project.

[@gus473]

My wife hatched a cecropia moth from a cocoon in her office! Huge, and hugely cool to see! (Then it was released outdoors.) 😎✌️

[@galshev]

I have seen a lot plants growing and flowers opening in slow motion. Never seen butterflies. FANTASTIC job! Thank you!!

[@pennycatcap2998]

I clicked on this video so fast, I love moths and very much enjoy seeing others marvel at their beauty too!! Thank you for filming this video!

[@tristenallen6693]

Dude, the plume moths look like actual angels there beautiful

[@ritahorvath8207]

So happy about this new video ❣ 🦋

[@caecaecream7763]

things i have learned from these videos: -insects lift their legs (and sometimes jump!!) to prepare for flying -wings move in a complex, circular pattern when in the air (maybe to take advantage of air vortices and give them more lift?) -moths are adorable and i love them

[@Danika_Nadzan]

Your videos are always fascinating, and this one really highlighted the jaw-dropping beauty of these gorgeous moths. I recently moved to NC, and hope to visit the Museum this year!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That pepper moth is an absolute UNIT, it's amazing to me that it's even able to get airborne.

[@shympek6046]

thank you for this video 😄😅😅❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@sulaf825]

I really appreciate your efforts, I never get to see those breathtaking creatures that close. Thank you so much. I wish we had a closer look at the ailanthus wings, it seems to have a very cool pattern on its wings, and I’ve never seen one in Saudi Arabia (where I live).

[@shaddonon]

5:36 caught myself whispering “wooow” out loud at the light flashing off this moth’s wings. your vids bring out my inner child ❤

[@chapa435ify]

Hey Doc, love your work, the critters you've captured and shared for us to see are truly breathtaking. I wanted to suggest adding sequences of moths/insects flying in normal speed so we can more easily appreciate how much detail is elucidated in the slow motion footage Cheers

[@kaylathehedgehog2005]

Holy moly! The wings of the plume moth are gorgeous. Very angelic. I legit thought that it had more than four wings when it start flying.

[@maggienelson4437]

When I first came to North Carolina over 50 years ago, I worked 3rd shift in a cavernous building with doors open to the outdoors and nearby woods. I saw the cecropia moths all the time, but I also saw luna moths often as big as a piece of typing paper. I never see them that big anymore.

[@DanielSimu]

The Moth Lab is my favorite science channel

[@bbpittorino5428]

I have more appreciation for my backyard moths now! Something whimsical about them in slow motion

[@fishsticxz]

Wonderful! insects are so cool and beautiful! it's amazing to get these closeup shots of them in flight, thanks for all your hard word!

[@ismewhat1234]

Really cool & good shots thank you for sharing have a great weekend

[@naktiluka]

Thank you for all your beautiful videos! For some reasons I was thinking that only male moths have feathered antennae, but 0:50 showed me I was wrong. I'm glad to refine my knowledge

[@oddjuice404]

The tips of the cecropias wings are so unique. They almost remind me of atlas moths since they vaguely look like snakes. One of my favorite moths.

[@petriepretorius4085]

My friend... The work that you are doing... It is special... Thank you for the work you are doing, revealing how artistic and wonderful the Creation is... They are so beautiful... But Sphingidae are still my favourite😊

[@mcnm]

Seus vídeos são sensacionais!

[@henkvaneden3552]

your work altered a lot my respect for those who choose for different lifeforms .thank you very much

[@joannagiddings3279]

Thanks for your wonderful content. I see some of these species in my backyard too and it is great to see them slowed down for viewing. Well done!

[@mixitup6805]

I have a moth obsession this makes me so happy

[@iainb1577]

Thank you for these wonderful videos. To see things, in detail, which we cannot ordinarily see is so special.

[@RangerJeni]

Brilliant video, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Must have taken forever to create.

[@littlekirby6]

moths are some of my favorite insects, such a nice treat to see this today ❤

[@karenj4206]

🤔 I wonder about whole video of just flight and music. Clearly it is a major event for them to take off that said my whole existence calms down watching this beautiful spectacle. I appreciate all the facts learning about them is wonderful.

[@CrowSkeleton]

Oh, these are so pretty whilst demonstrating principles of lift in insect flight so well...more moths please!

[@dolphinOnKeys]

Amazing as always, thank you very much

[@user-km2cu6wv7b]

I so love watching your channel. You do amazing work. Thanks

[@oldcrowcreations]

So cool! I love moths💕 You got some amazing shots.

[@PrometheanVision]

I wish this was shot in 4K

[@vickiferko23]

Absolutely brilliant !!!

[@kavinaderrow3269]

I've captured these moths multiple times. They're my favorite just from their sheer size.

[@dieorkin]

The big fluffy one is giving Mothra vibes.

[@e.s.lavall9219]

So graceful and adorable

[@rebeccadowling4904]

The White Miller Caddisfly was my favorite! Your narratives are great too!

[@oneshotme]

I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@greenbimoon]

As always, amazing macrophotography. Thanks

[@simplepixel5617]

Awesome content as always!!

[@JohannVonVorst]

While doing radar research I started looking into bats and eventually how moths have adapted to combat bat sonar. Gnarly lil critters for sure

[@teddyborgaard5787]

I have been on youtube for as long as i can remember and you are 1000% one of my favurit channels ever! SO much AMAZING fotage and amazing facts! I love when other people see the beauty of the littel things🤩🤩

[@Der_Hannes]

Wonderful!

[@mel0dymak3r]

beautiful!

[@DamnSamBam]

i just like seeing lil bugs flap around :)

[@maddem4104]

Lovely!

[@WarpedHorizon]

So cool! Great work!

[@SJHFoto]

Very nice!

[@maymalone1505]

Beautiful 😍 😘 😍 tk ❤ for all your work and uploading🎉😊😊

[@Brightwing_]

very cool thank you!

[@muggs105]

beautiful.

[@ulrikchristiansen]

Magnificent! How about a lab tour showing your workplace and how you make the awesome videos? Thanks!

[@chir0pter]

Primitive lineages of moths are so interesting to me…for example how many basal lineages are still around, and how they represent relics of past periods of geologic history. You should try to film a kauri moth!

[@lilyridley1160]

Pretty!!

[@pierrelegendre3582]

Toujours des images fantastiques👍

[@fauxvier8519]

Amazing video!

[@basilzullig8789]

Super cool! ;D

[@martinfernandez882]

Thems some TripleBs: Beautiful biomechanical beasts

[@lisa.66]

In San diego I once saw a huge piece of wood clinging to the wall. I noticed legs underneath it and when I went to lean in to get a look, the whole thing took off and flew away. It wasn't a huge piece of wood after all, it was a huge moth, and each wing was about the size of a man's hand. I couldn't believe it.

[@aaronkohutek]

What a treat :)

[@mljh11]

Disappointed that cecropia wasn't shown flying in real time (can't seem to find other videos depicting this either). It looks so huge that I imagine flight must be clumsy if not difficult.

[@ggemcat]

so pretty

[@alveolate]

omgggg flying floofs!

[@Langharig_Tuig]

A very specific question: In Dutch Caddis Flies are called "Schietmotten" (literally shot moths or shock moths) because they're supposedly slow flyers and make jitterish shocking movements while flying. This isn't a very clear description and in the video it seems to not fly in an exceptionally noticeable way so I wonder if they truly have such a distinct flying pattern (as compared to other moths and dragonflies, which is to which they are compared in Dutch and got their name from)

[@toaster9922]

more moth!!!

[@ltlbuddha]

The white Miller Caddisfly looks like a kaiju

[@temoharri8848]

Dr. Ling…we have lost contact with MONARCH….Dr LING!!!

[@nassirnassir7286]

Thank for this great video but How they land too is important

[@chir0pter]

I used to get mad about ailanthus but in fact there used to be Ailanthua native to North America. Thus I find it much less offensive and invasive compared to something like eucalyptus and Brazilian peppertree in Southern California

[@ErikSaBa6]

Hey, I know its higly unlikely but, do you have fotage of a male strepsipterid?, they are really cool insects and those weird wings could make for an entire video.

[@virtualhotline]

Ant lab goated

[@user-gg1se7fx2b]

1:52 Давайте запустим кампанию по сбору средств на новую ногу мотыльку!

[@jozitro4554]

Moth-humanoid-homoculus.😱👽

[@sarahb.6475]

Who else started to sing the old Mothra song from the Godzilla movies for the first moth??

[@sarahb.6475]

I wonder why my mother + grandmother never liked moths but yet butterflies were ok?? They acted like they were a huge threat?

[@SmittenandBitten]

Awlet? I thought awlets were butterflies? Edit: oh... Owlet... Sorry moths are much less loved than butterflies :')

[@feliceautosophic1274]

blib!

[@NeilPBrooks]

Wait, moths have scales??

[@lithium2000]

yep! i suggest looking at pictures! they're so cool.

[@martinhernandez6579]

I would like to know if you have a deep interest in aerodynamics, to really understand and appreciate what is happening.

[@UnicornOfDepression]

*Paint brush for scale.*

[@Jazmieplayz]

Under 20 min 👇🏼