America's next MOTH model... Winged insects pose up on the tip of a finger for stunning close-ups



Forget Kate, Claudia and Naomi; with its eye-catching neon colours, quirky headgear and flamboyant pose, this tiny moth could give any model a run for their money.



The vivid pink and yellow insect appears to be playing up to the camera in this incredible image as it perches on the fingertip of photographer and self-styled 'Moth Man' Warren Krupsaw.

The photographer has captured around 100 different species of moth in close-up detail, revealing the insect family's amazing variation in terms of colour and shape.



Strike a pose: This flamboyant-looking Rosy Maple Moth seems to be playing up to the camera in this incredible picture

Mr Krupsaw, from northern Virginia, U.S., waits until after dark to begin his work, as moths become more active late at night.

When darkness falls he turns on a garden light to lure his subjects, getting them to perch on his finger while he takes the shot.

The 69-year-old photographer said that, while the process sounds simple, he often has to wait hours at a time to capture a single moth.

'I usually go outside about 10pm and 11pm at night and shoot for a couple of hours at a time,' he said.

'They take a while to get used to you - when I first go out they don't tend to 'play' straight away but after a while they get more confident.

'Most people look at a moth's wing pattern rather than face, so a surprising revelation occurs when you're made aware of the unusual character and variety of these common critters.'



When the lights go out: Photographer Warren Krupsaw waits until it gets dark to set up his incredible moth portraits

Quirky: A lime-green Luna moth is captured posing on the tip of the photographer's finger

Bizarre: This fluffy looking monochrome moth is a prime example of the insects' bizarre appearance when seen up close

Distinctive: A Parasa moth captured on camera by 'Moth Man' Warren Krupsaw

Vibrant: This Showy Emerald moth lives up to its name, showing off its jewel-coloured wings for the camera

Smouldering gaze: Glowing orange eyes give this grey moth a startled appearance

After dark: The photographer set up his shots late at night, when moths become more active

Wingspan: Io moths like the one shown here have a wingspan of between two and a half and three and a half inches

'Mothography': A Prometheus moth with intricately patterned wings, left, and an altogether hairier variety of the insect, right, are photographed on Mr Krupsaw's finger



Mr Krupsaw said summer nights yield the best results for his unique insect portraiture, which he has dubbed 'mothography'.



'Although there is always some moth activity, they are most seen in June, July and August,' he said.

'There's a positive correlation between rising temperatures and moth numbers, they tend to taper off as winter approaches,' added the photographer, who believes he has shot around 100 species of moth so far.

The insect aficionado wants to add to that already impressive number, and with an estimated 160,000 different species of moth, he is unlikely to run out of new varieties to photograph.

'I would be interested in going to a different location, or even country, simply because of the possibility of encountering new subjects,' he said.

'My wife and I are planning to visit Kauai soon, a Hawaiian island in the U.S., and I hope to encounter many different species there.

'I would also consider travelling to the UK as well to shoot the different types of moths over there,' he added.



Out of this world: Many of the moths appear almost alien-like when viewed in close detail





On display: Photographer Warren Krupsaw has managed to snap pictures of around 100 different species of moth