I saw the first Hummingbird Moth of the season on Tuesday and saw 2 of them on my Dianthus last evening. What lovely little creatures.
Carla
First Hummingbird Moth.
Very nice!
I'm growing moonflower vine, which those moths love. Can't wait to see them!
Barb
Sphinx moths whose hostplant is Pentas inwhich I grow for them are a delight too. Love those night flyers. Although, Clearwing hummingbird Moths are often found during the daylight. I love them.
So happened, I saw the first Clear-winged Hummingbird-moth on my Dianthus blooms as well!
So Pentas is a host plant for hummer moths? Are there any others? I know the moths are all over my butterfly bushes for nectar.
Hi Carol, there are different type of Sphinx moths. The Tersa Sphinx is one that feeds on Pentas. I've successfully raised several and released the moths back to nature. It was a neat experience. http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/1429/
I know the catipillars LOVE my potato vines.. I have found some as big as 6"... HUGE and the damage is amazing.. they can strip and entire section of leaves overnight. I try to allow only one or two mature on my vines each season. Sorry, I can't let any more than that.. I would not have any foliage growing. The plants can't keep up with their eating. I found a moth today on my patio. I picked up a glove that had fallen behind my table and it was resting on the glove. I just left it alone.
Saw my 1st clearwing a couple days ago on one of my arrowwood viburnum blooms. It buzzed right past my ear, like, "Get outta my way - I'm hungry!". They're so cool to watch, but I sure would like to see some actual hummers!
LhasaLover, you must have found the common Tomato/potato sphinxmoths. The Clearwings moths....I'm not sure what's actually is their hostplants. Someone with more knowledge may chime in? Carol, I consider myself a novice at hummers. I thought I don't have hummingbirds in my garden, only one or two when they visit my feeders....until I visit my neighbors last weekend. Theirs were in large number hovering over their single feeder....so there are certain secrets/criterias where we can get them in mass number, in which I haven't found out yet.