Two of these strange moths visit my yard late every evening, sipping nectar from the white butterfly bush. I’ve also seen another one around my petunias and it has a yellow color. They look exactly like tiny, inch long hummingbirds. They are very hard to photograph, their wings are most always a blur since they flit about just like a hummingbird and are never still. They are capable of hovering in place and their wings make a slight humming noise. They’re fascinating to watch and I’m always happy to see them in the yard. I took these photos of the moths at my butterfly bush this evening. Click each photo for a larger version.
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Also, see my more recent posts about these hummingbird moths, with larger, clearer photographs here:
Another hummingbird moth
Snowberry Clearwing hummingbird moth
Some hummingbird moth info:
- These moths are from the Sphingidae (hawk-moth) family of insects, and are known as hornworms while in the caterpillar stage.
- The caterpillars feed on viburnum and related plants.
- Most of these moths fly at night and are rarely seen, a few however are known as the hummingbird moths and feed at dusk and on cloudy days.
- Some of these moths have transparent areas in their wings.
- The moths drink nectar through a long feeding tube (proboscis) just like a hummingbird.
- They are also known as “sphinx moths”.
- They range in size from about three quarters of an inch up to two inches long.
- These moths are late risers, not flying until the sun warms their wing muscles.
- In southern climates, two broods of moths are produced each year. The second set of adult hummingbird moths emerge in late summer or early fall.
I enjoy watching these little moths, and hopefully I can capture some photos of the yellow one also.
