Hummingbird Moth
Weird Insects
Hummingbird Moth
Its probably Hemaris thysbe, the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth or Common Clearwing (wingspan 3850 mm), which so closely resembles a hummingbird when feeding that many people never really notice that its a moth hovering over the flowers.The diurnal nature of many of these moths (most moths are nocturnal) and its similarities to the hummingbird in size, foraging behavior, and feeding structures often makes it one of the most common cases of mistaken identity in nature. The Hemaris thysbe moth feeds through a proboscis, a long, strawlike tube kept curled under the head when not in use. Its range includes Alaska and the Northwest Territories south through British Columbia to Oregon, east through the Great Plains and the Great Lakes area to Maine and Newfoundland, and south to Florida and Texas. Central Texas residents know that its range incorporates the Texas Hill Country, especially in the spring.