Over the moon with luna moth find
They are usually found in North America, but one of the world's largest species of moth is believed to have set up home on an industrial estate in the Black Country – giving the workmen the creeps.
Only Steve Brown was brave enough to pick up the luna moth with its bright lime green wings spanning five inches at M&J Drilling Services on Coneygre Industrial Estate in Tipton.
Mr Brown, of Post Office Road, Seisdon, near Wombourne, caught the creature, which has no mouth and only lives for two weeks, in a box and is now waiting for it to be collected by wildlife experts.
The 55-year-old said: "I found it on Friday outside the door at work but no-one would pick it up as it was so big. They were all just standing around it, too frightened to touch it, but I picked it up, put it in a box and ran its details through Google.
"I've never seen anything like it before. It has a wingspan of five inches and is absolutely massive. I'm convinced it's a luna moth as it's just so strange."
The father-of-three believes the moth arrived in chrysalis form in imported goods.
Wife Karen is less keen, and said: "I don't even like the small, fluttery ones so I'm not very pleased about this.
"It's massive and I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it.
"We have been calling butterfly experts and have also rung Dudley Zoo."
