CLOSED: What is this black and gold insect.

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Vec101 Charleston, WV Aug 17, 2008

This insect is feasting off of the nectar from the flowers on my porch. It especially likes the little purple flowers (sorry, I don't know the name). The insect is about 1 inch or a little longer, it's body is gold with a black band on the lower part, gold again, then it looks like it is black at the "tail" end. It is quiet - does not make any type of buzzing sound.

It is the middle of August and this is the first time I have seen it. It's very brave and oblivious to anything but the flowers - it let's me get very close to it, I could reach out and touch it. My dog was watching it and the insect flew onto a flower just a very few inches from my dog's mouth (she likes to kill bees but she hasn't gone after this insect).

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kerryc moncton, Canada Aug 17, 2008

what a coincidence! at about the same time that you were posting, i was taking a picture of what appears to be the same thing. my husband saw it flying around among the many bees enjoying one of our patches of monarda. i am so curious to find out what it is. i just wish i had a better camera to get more detail.

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kitten0115 La Vergne, TN Aug 17, 2008

This is a 4-horned sphinx moth. It's a nectar eater and usually is seen at dusk.

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Aug 17, 2008

...or a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe:

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/hthysbe.htm

They are beautiful!

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 17, 2008

Hard to tell, I thought it was a Snowberry Clearwing, Hemaris diffinis:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/900/

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Vec101 Charleston, WV Aug 17, 2008

You guys are WONDERFUL!!!! Thank you.
It is a Snowberry Clearwing, also called a Bumblebee moth.

I looked up pictures of the moths you suggested on the net. Here is the link to it http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/hdiffinis.htm. It does look very much like the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth but the coloring is different.

Kerry, That is too funny. After taking this picture, I decided I am buying a new and better camera.

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Vec101 Charleston, WV Aug 17, 2008

Ok This is too funny - after wander around the internet I discovered you are all right. I found this:

The Snowberry Clearwing Moth is a small hummingbird moth which more closely resembles a large bumblebee rather than a hummingbird. Like other hummingbird moths, this one flies during daylight. A similar, but larger, sphinx moth is the (Hemaris thysbe) Hummingbird Clearwing Moth.

Again, thank you so much.

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