What insect looks like a fairy when in flight?

Woolly Aphids do, but they don’t look as big as in that photo.
This here is a picture of a woolly aphid.

Kind of looks like it could be a locust: http://blogs.thetimes.co.za/wheeldeal/files/2009/01/locust.jpg

Dragonfly or Butterfly?

Looked pretty much like a butterfly to me.

It looks like a large moth to me. The “arms” are part of the house roof lit by the flash.

It sort of looks like a regular moth to me, but almost like it flapped it wings so fast that we see 3 frames of movement in 1 picture. You can clearly see the white wings on top, imagine the wings going down (the arms) and now imagine the wings going further down (the legs). I don’t know, it could be possible if you change the exposure, but I’m not a photographer.

@Marina No, the “arms” aren’t part of the house. I lightened the picture in order to see the background better, and the “arms” are definitely attached to the bug: http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/CorruptAnalysis/Lightened.jpg

I’m thinking katydid

The thing Harp linked to will give me nightmares.

I think it looks like a dove, a white one, released at a wedding in nearby Heathfield .

A lunar moth, perhaps. When it flies around, it looks very much like a hummingbird, due to size and speed of wings.

The katydid looks to be the closest in size and arms and legs as well as the wings!

Katydids usually jump around rather than fly a lot.
Here’s what one like on a leaf; which is the way I normally see them.

I want to say a leaf bug. But I can’t find a good video or pic, but when I was younger, I always thought they looked majestic when they flew

Actually if it was a lunar moth it could have been 2 frames. The tails are there and the color matches (a little blueish/greenish).

This story reminds me of those weird strings of white lights they found in the jungle. They were presumed to be alien or maybe even from another dimension. Turned out it was just some sort of moth on speed! It flies so fast the human eye can’t keep track of it. I’ve been trying to Google it but can’t find it, help me! ;)

It was just me.

It reminds me of a hummingbird moth but I’m still at a loss to figure out the “arms” and “legs.” Those moths are day-flying, but there are other species of sphinx moths in England that are nocturnal.

All of the above moths fly in a hovering manner typical of hummingbirds. The way the wings of the “fairy” looked in the photo reminds me of the way these moths fly.

Darn it, @Tink1113. You’ve caused a commotion.

@mrentropy Im sorry, I promise I won’t go out in public anymore.

@Tink1113 Well, if you do, wear a hat.

@mrentropy A red hat?

@Tink1113 I’m all right with that if everyone else is.

@mrentropy Ditto.

I think butterlies look like they’re in flight..they are soo peaceful and gentle and stuff..until they touch you.:O

@MissAustin; I withdraw my Luna moth and vote for the Sphinx moth

@DrasticDreamer Thanks for the revised image.

I also vote for the sphinx moth with the shorter wings being the “arms”.

I knew my son’s insect obsession would come in handy! The fat little body and fuzzy-looking antennae on the “fairy” seemed moth-like to me. They usually don’t fly with their legs splayed out like that though. Maybe it was just taking off from somewhere nearby, or about to land? I wouldn’t swear on it being a moth, but I think it’s more likely than it being a fairy. :)

Or it could be this (newest image from Hubble telescope);

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/earth-environment/article6828136.ece

This insect has actually been seen in daylight. It resembles a stick bug, but has two sets of diaphanous wings, the top set are green and the bottom set are black. I’m looking for a name for it too. The person who saw it, who is reliable, said that it fell out of a tree and when she approached it it put it’s front legs up beside it’s head as if it were trying to hide.