Hummingbird Moth

Photo by Larry Lamsa on Shutterstock

Hemaris spp.
 
What’s that in the flowers? Is it a moth? Is it a hummingbird? Yes and no. It’s a Hummingbird Moth!

I love these massive moths. They do look and move just like hummingbirds and feed on the same nectar-producing flowers. Instead of a long beak, they have a long tongue which they can curl up and keep under their chin when they are not feeding.

They are often referred to as Hawk Moths and Sphinx Moths. The sphinx name comes not from the adults but the caterpillars. They are known to raise their heads off the ground like a sphinx.

As I mentioned before, they are large. Their wingspans can be up to two and a half inches. The antennae of moths, including Hummingbird Moths, are fuzzy, differing from those of butterflies. Their wings also usually have clear parts.

Like all moths and butterflies, Hummingbird Moths have specific host plants where they lay their eggs. These include honeysuckle, dogbane, and some stone fruit trees. And, to the frustration of many gardeners, the Five-Spotted Hawkmoth has a penchant for laying eggs on tomato plants. Yes, the tomato hornworm will turn into a sphinx moth, although they are a separate genus from the traditional Hummingbird Moth.

Still, Hummingbird Moths are fun to find! I love seeing their cubby, furry bodies flitting in and out of flowerbeds like their namesake.
​
Next time you see a Hummingbird, look twice. It might actually be a Moth!
  

---