There are many species commonly known as "hummingbird moth". This one is White-lined sphinx hummingbird moth or Hyles lineata according to Butterflies and Moths of North America. Adults are just over two inches long with a wingspan of up to three inches making it quite a large insect. This moth is commonly found throughout North and Central America. By hovering over a flower instead of landing, the moth resembles a hummingbird and sometimes you have to look twice to be sure, especially when it's on the hummingbird favorite Salvia greggii.
This sequence is particularly fascinating as you can see the proboscis curl as it is retracted.
According the Wisconsin Master Gardener's site Hyles lineata caterpillars were used as food by Native Americans. I'll let you read about it on your own as the description of the process is not exactly yummy. While they are not considered prolific pollinators they are the key pollinators of the rare lemon lily in California. The caterpillars, which are a type of hornworm, enjoy some of our most common garden plants such as Four o'clocks, purslane, grapes, evening primrose and tomatoes. In spite of that I hope seeing this one means there will be even more around.
Very cool motion shots! I love nature watching too. There's always something going on if you take the time to look.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun to be in the garden and see all the little things that happen constantly.
DeleteOh, I so loved watching your little movies! We get loads of real hummingbirds here, I've never seen a hummingbird moth here in the PNW. We used to get them occasionally in Massachusetts.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed you have hummingbirds almost year round and we only have them in the summer.
DeleteAmazing photos of an amazing creature. I am still working on the art of remaining still long enough to capture shots of some of the flightier garden visitors.
ReplyDeleteTrying not to chase is part of the trick of capturing the faster creatures. This one was intoxicated by the flowers and so was slower than it might appear.
DeleteWay cool movies of this fascinating moth! I can see why you'd want to see more of them! Hornworms don't sound very tasty though.
ReplyDeleteI don't plan to taste them and this type of hornworm does less damage than the tomato hornworm.
DeleteExcellent captures, Shirley! I didn't realize the caterpillars could feed on Evening Primrose, but that's encouraging and helps explain why I saw so many of these beauties late last summer and into the fall. I have a healthy patch of Evening Primrose in the backyard (and Tomatoes in the potager garden). If OK with you, I will share this post with our Wisconsin Master Naturalists group. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat is so nice Beth, it is okay to share any of my posts as long as the link is attached which I'm sure you would do anyway.
DeleteWe have a native evening primrose that I am trying to coax into my garden more and more.
Yes, I will share the link to your entire post--it's so informative and beautiful!
DeleteWhat a wonderful sequence, Shirley. I haven't seen hummingbird moth since my time at our cabin in the North Georgia mountains – when they used to approach and stare. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteThis one was very focused on the flowers but did seem very aware of me. Maybe next time we will have a closer encounter.
DeleteThose were fabulous! I saw my first hummingbird moth last fall in New Mexico, it was a beautiful creature.
ReplyDeleteThey are so amazingly similar to hummingbirds. I'm surprised to learn they are not common in your area.
DeleteSeeing beautiful wildlife in the garden adds another dimension to the enjoyment of ones garden.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed at how much wildlife we find in our growing urban area. I think the increasing number of native plants in neighborhood gardens is quite attractive to them.
DeleteThese motion shots are so cool, even though those moths freak me out! (a long story from other moths growing up in Denver) Stunning to see them in this light, just doing what we do - eating and getting a sugar fix!
ReplyDeleteThere are certain creature encounters that stick with us for a very long time. I don't like moths much but this one was fun.
DeleteThose moths are fascinating. I've never seen one here but perhaps we're not within their range. I wonder how a hummingbird would react to them? The birds are so territorial with their own species.
ReplyDeleteI've learned that they are not seen on the West Coast. That would be fun to see a hummingbird react. The hummers have returned so I'll keep a watch out for that.
DeleteSo cool, Shirley! I love those moths--I have them as well, though I'm jealous of your Mt. Laurel bloom. Mine were frozen in that last freeze on March 2.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't get as cold as you but a few new leaves on various plants did get their tips frozen. I hope most of your garden is rebounding from the late freeze.
DeleteWe haven’t got hummingbirds over here in Britain, and I don’t think we have hummingbird moths either, I certainly haven’t seen any at least. Your photos and videos are absolutely lovely, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThere are hummingbird moths native to North Africa and they apparently range into the UK on occasion. I read that UK residents call in hummingbird sightings only to be told they have likely seen a giant moth!
DeleteWow! What a fabulous post, Shirley - and what beautiful creatures. Let them know if they should stray as far as the UK, they will be made most welcome here.
ReplyDeleteI love it when you do those moving shots! I remember the first time I saw one in my garden I ran inside and yelled, "Brett you have to see this, you have to get the kids! It is like...a hummingbird moth!" ha! I had no idea that was one of the common names until we googled later. They are toooooo cooooool!
ReplyDeleteI used to get tomato hornworms on my tomatoes in San Diego, but haven't seen them up here. I remember seeing one as a 4-year-old and thinking it was a hummingbird. Thanks for the amazing movie strip.
ReplyDeleteI really love these moths. They always seem so tame. It's so easy to get up close to them. I didn't realize hornworms are their caterpillars. Maybe the next time hornworms eat my tomatoes, I'll let a few live.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see these moths in slo-mo action!
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