I found this under a pile of leaves yesterday. It was quite big.
ID insect
Hmmmm...some kind of moth is my guess.
Maybe a sphinx moth of some variety?
Okay, I looked through the Bug Files and I think this is the right one: http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/130/
This message was edited Mar 11, 2009 10:51 PM
Stephanie got it right, they are beautiful.
Here is another link about their habitat and food sources.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3477
Josephine
Good detective work. Thanks!
Those guys really really love honeysuckle. They used to buzz us when we were kids. Sometimes the look like hummingbirds.
I could see why you would think it might bee a hummer. It is BIG.
Dumb question....Would it be nearly dead at this time of year. I would give it my teacher neighbor for school, but don't want to upset the lifecycle.
At first, I thought it was a Hummingbird Moth, but they have different markings and clear wings.
I get some that resemble that around here. Their eyes reflect red in the porch light. Very strange.
Anne
Moths don't live very long, if you still have it you might put it in a container with a paper napkin in it and see if it lays any eggs, it may have been hibernating, it is all a guess.
Josephine.
It was nice and cozy under the leaves so it did make me think it might be hibernating.
We once had hermit crabs and I buried one when I thought it was dead. Don't want to make any more assumptions!