Sometimes it is hard to quit gardening. I putter, water, weed, deadhead, look, pick, and plant well into the evening hours. I guess it is an obsession (Duh right?). A warm Sunday evening found me putting away the remainder of my tools, wrapping up hoses, and cleaning up. While doing this I was buzzed by a large insect. Why would a humming bird be out this late? What else could it be? I stood still and waited for a return visit. Again a buzz, and flutter of wings past me, and again I thought humming bird. Soon another joined the first and then a third. Standing very still I started to observe what was going on. I ran in to get my camera and quietly came back. Unbelievable. A black and white insect with wings that beat so fast you could not see them. It has a long proboscis and was darting from flower to flower pollinating.
After the video session, where the star of the show continued to fly around, a visit to Google was in store. I looked up hummingbird and moth together. I found several types of Hummingbird Moths and identified mine. It is a Hyles Lineata or White Sphinx Moth. The common name comes from the way they fly, with wings moving in a blur, and hovering for nectar like a humming bird. This one was so cool. The zebra like striping and the red/pink wing edges were beautiful.
In all the years I have lived here and gardened I had never spotted one before. I don’t know if they are new to my area or because of the location of the property I’m the new one to the area.
Here are some more facts about these fascinating creatures…
- They are not considered a pest and usually inhabit desert areas, or warm areas. It was a warm night and when I looked for them on subsequent nights when it was cooler I didn’t see them. Some information suggests that when they colonize an area they will move further north to colonize another area. Possibly the explanation of why I’ve never seen them before.
- Adults fly at dusk, during the night and at dawn.
- Caterpillars pupate in shallow burrows in the ground. A
- dults eat nectar form columbines, larkspurs, petunia, honeysuckle, moonvine, bouncing bet, lilac, clovers, thistles, and Jimson Weed. Mine were on Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’. They like tubular flowers like the Hummingbird.
Enjoy this video and be on the lookout! You may have them in your garden too. Let me know if you see them.
That was different! Nice little video, cool tiny guy