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JennGM
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I think my favorite little creature is a hummingbird. Not having lots of trees or bushes if I can't any coming to my flowers and feeder I'm very happy.
Yesterday we went to Mount Vernon. In the midst of the flower garden, with gorgeous butterflies and such we saw a hummingbird moth. I've been dying to see one in real life. It is amazing, and it does look and act very similar to a hummingbird.
I can die happy now. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Lara Sauer
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I just saw one of those at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in July and was wondering what it was called.
It might be the most beautiful and amazing insect I have ever seen!
I know what you mean about dying happy!
Thanks for posting!
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JennGM
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We just now saw another flying bug as large as a hummingbird moth, but it had stripes and a stinger so I'm trying to pinpoint that one.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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snowbabiesmom
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Jenn, We had one visit our Lantana last summer and were amazed by its.. beauty and oddness... It is called a hummingbird hawkmoth. I got a few pictures here last summer before it left. hummingbird hawkmoth
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Mackfam
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These are really neat! They're quite common here - in fact there is one buzzing about my white flowers in the front garden as I type!
I remember when we first identified one of these moths! We thought it was a baby hummingbird and were SOOO excited!
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Jen Mackintosh
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JennGM
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Emily, your pictures are wonderful!
We got a shot, but it's a bit blurry.
My field guide just calls them hummingbird moths, not hawkmoths.
Just trying to figure out the other giant insect we saw today, too.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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How cool is this? We just spotted another hummingbird locally at our Southern States Nursery.
Just too thrilling. I know it's common for you, Jen, but even if I saw them often, hummingbirds and hummingbird moths are a constant fascination for me.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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These moths are in the Sphingidae Family. They are commonly refered to as hawkmoths or sphinx moths. Either name is fine and refer to the same general family of moths which includes the ones that are mistaken for hummingbirds (called clear wings or Hemaris). There are a vareity of species within the family.
This is the one we have around here - Rocky Mountain Hummingbird Moth
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Mackfam
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JennGM wrote:
| I know it's common for you, Jen, but even if I saw them often, hummingbirds and hummingbird moths are a constant fascination for me. |
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Oh, for us too...even with their large numbers here!!
We were just reading The Far Flung Adventures of Homer the Hummer because it's time for our big influx of Ruby-throated hummers. We can have up to 20 hummingbirds around one feeder at a time from August - September! It's astounding to see them all!!! They are amazing little creatures. We've all been blessed to hold them and it's just humbling!!! The little birds sometimes get trapped in our garage - so we've perfected the art of catch and release. In the beginning, when we were not so good, they'd be exhausted, God bless the dears. So, we'd carefully bring them to the feeder and allow them to sip. It was just an amazing experience to hold the little creatures and be so up close! They are one of our favorite birds to watch and we carefully cultivate their favorite flowers and faithfully provide them with fresh food. They never fail to supply us with their company from spring to fall! It's a sheer delight!!! So...I COMPLETELY understand your excitement!
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Jen Mackintosh
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MaryM
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JennGM wrote:
| We just now saw another flying bug as large as a hummingbird moth, but it had stripes and a stinger so I'm trying to pinpoint that one. |
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One of the other clearwing species is a bumblebee mimic - Snowberry clearwing. Could it have been that? The proboscis could look like a stinger.
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JennGM
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MaryM wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| We just now saw another flying bug as large as a hummingbird moth, but it had stripes and a stinger so I'm trying to pinpoint that one. |
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One of the other clearwing species is a bumblebee mimic - Snowberry clearwing. Could it have been that? The proboscis could look like a stinger. |
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I'll have to show the boys, it looks similar except the tail end of the thorax, which was more pointy, like a wasp end, and I think more stripes.
It buzzed more than the hummingbird moth, with the wings moving fast giving an orange color, like the clearwing.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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guitarnan
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When we were stationed in southern Italy, some 20 years ago or so, our tiny military exchange received a big shipment of items for sale. We were astonished when a Navy friend stopped us that afternoon with a huge grin on his face. He'd noticed that the exchange staffers were pricing hummingbird feeders and putting them on the shelves, so he asked why they were selling them. Some folks on base, he was told, wanted them for their yards.
Our friend laughed until he cried, he told us...he's a birdwatcher...and there are no hummingbirds in Europe, only hummingbird moths. 
(Side note: Fossils of hummingbirds have been discovered in Europe, and occasionally a caged hummer gets out, but...)
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Sanveann
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Oh, I love hummingbird moths! The first time I ever saw one, I nearly passed out from shock. I couldn't imagine WHAT on earth it was! :)
So jealous of those of you who have tons of hummingbirds ... here in Michigan, we see them only very rarely, and just the ruby-throated. When I visit my family in Colorado, though, I LOVE to see all the different beautiful varieties!
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hmbress
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I saw my first hummingbird moth here in Bowie, MD several weeks ago. We just moved here from Michigan and did not have them there. The kids and I were absolutely thrilled, and still get excited every time we see one on our butterfly bush. They are amazing creatures and lead me to praise God for his creativity and desire to delight us with nature!
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Hummingbird Moth
