Hummingbird moths - who all see's 'em?

We get this beautiful little moth up here in Ithaca, NY. The first time I saw one I did a double take, because it looked like a hummingbird from a distance, but it was too small. Over the summer months that year I saw them again and again. I finally turned to the internet to find out what they were.

They are called hummingbird moths - hemaris thysbe. You can find lots of information and pictures of them online. Here's one I snapped. Not a great shot but I didn't have a digital camera then! Does anyone else see them around their gardens?

We get them here on occasion, over the border from you in Pennsylvania.
I haven't seen them around our house, but we do spot them when visiting the local nursuries.

They really are a neat insect, but I nearly swatted the first one I saw before I got a good look at it.
The back end is fluted, kind of like a lobster tail, and very much NOT like any other moth I've seen.

I haven't successfully got a picture of one yet. Good job, Imelling!

I saw my first one this summer at my mom's in Dyer, TN. I had to look twice at it to make sure it wasn't a hummer. They are also called hawk or sphinx moths. I looked them up online and found lots of awesome pics of them. I hope to catch a pic of one sometime. I saw the White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth. Incredible insects. Do you see them only in the morning or night? I saw this one right at sunset when it was just getting dark. I have never seen one during the day.

We've got several differnt hummingbird moths (or hawkmoths) here in Israel. If you lookback through the archives, you can see sevearl posts over the past couple of months where people have posted photos of the hawkmoths in their region. They are definitely very cool. :-)

-Julie

We get the Sphinx moth here too, but mostly at night. I never see these clear-winged hummingbird moths after dusk. But they're plentiful during the day. They seem to love the flowers around my pond, especially the calibrochia that I snapped the picture of. I've also seen them handing around my larkspur and hydrangea.

I keep the light on above the back door at night because my dogs like to go out and run around the yard at night. It attracts some of the most beautiful and huge moths I've ever seen! We usually get a luna moth or two during it's season as well. Those are also a wonder!

Oh Yes! I have lots of night blooming flowers and they LOVE THEM! Four O'clocks, moonvines, datura inoxia . .. they love it here! One night I had at least 6 on one of my large four o'clock bushes (but there may have been more, they move so fast!).

Here's one of my favorite pictures . . A pink spotted hawk moth on my yellow four o'clocks. . .

Here's an excellent link to help id the moth's in north america:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/mothsusa.htm

-Onalee

Oh he's beautiful!

I've seen them very often in my gardens this year.

This summer I saw one hummingbird clear wing moth here in Iowa. There was a great blurb on them in Birds and Blooms over the summer - that's how I knew what I was seeing. We also occasionally see the Sphinx moths here, usually toward dusk.

I have them here in N. Texas, and have seen them on my Moonvines at night. They really show up in the center of those big white flowers. They let me get pretty close to observe them, as they seem intent on getting the nectar! I have not caught them on camera yet, I just love watching them work.

mel

I had one earlier this spring. It was the first time I've ever seen on up close. It stayed around for quite a while, but I haven't seen it lately. I do love my Monarchs tho!

Onalee, thanks for that link. They also have a breakdown by county, so I'll know where to look for an ID if I see one!

Kathleen

Kathleen,
You're welcome - that is a very informative site and since that particular moth wasn't listed as being in my county, I felt honored to report it to the 'authorities' so they could add it.

Carmel in March.

Thanks onalee. I had 2 white-lined sphinx moths at my oriental lillies this July. On the link their map for WA state showed no siteings for Kittitas County. So I let them know the moths are here.
deidre

I had 2 in my garage at night when the light was on this year. I had never seen one that close up.
It had been years since I had seen on around here.

Glad they are back.