CLOSED: looked like a hummingbird

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mar110 Pittsburgh, PA(Zone 6a) Aug 26, 2006

Wandered into my garden and saw something that flies like a hummingbird, but was not a hummingbird. It looked like a cross between a bee and a hummingbird. Sorry, no pic. It moved so fast from one phlox to another and then flew away. It was yellow and black, like a bee, had 2 (I think) things coming out from it's head.Honestly, at first I thought it was a hummingbird, than, looked up h-bird images and it definitely was not . Very curious to see if anyone knows what it might be. thanks!

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lwhalliday Pittsboro, NC(Zone 7a) Aug 26, 2006

Probably a hummingbird moth. Here's a pic - let me know if this is what you saw.

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lwhalliday Pittsboro, NC(Zone 7a) Aug 26, 2006

This particular one is called a hummingbird clearwing. Here's a pic of one flying around phlox.
http://davesgarden.com/bf/showimage/1329/

The one I photographed was actually resting on a leaf of a butterfly bush. They're usually flying around; that's the first time I ever saw one still!

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 26, 2006

I've never seen one hold still, ever. Even hummingbirds stop once in a while! Here's one on ye olde butterfly bush. There are some moths that look more like hummingbirds than these

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mar110 Pittsburgh, PA(Zone 6a) Aug 26, 2006

omigod! it was definitely a hummingbird clearwing...are they the good guys or bad guys? I have never inall my years of gardening seen anything like this! Wow ee! So peculiar! Thanks!

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 27, 2006

http://bugguide.net/node/view/2639


I don't think the larvae eat any garden plants, and they're fun to watch, so I think they're on our side.

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shadowgirl Moscow, TN(Zone 7a) Aug 28, 2006

This summer was the first time I ever saw one of these. Had to do a double take and grab the camera. lol

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