Hummingbird Moths

August 4, 2009

Hummingbird Moth (Hermaris thysbe)

This Hummingbird Moth, also known as a “Bee Moth” in Europe is a Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies). It is from the Sphingidae family (Sphinx Moth, Hawk Moth and Hornworms) of which there are at least 1200 known species. It is of the genus Hemaris.

There may be 3 species of Hummingbird Moths in the region around Protection Farm but I have only observed this one species. Last year the Hummingbird moths were much more plentiful. This year, as of today I have only seen one. These photographs are from last summer, late July.

This is an odd moth. It is so named because it can be easily confused to the casual observer with a hummingbird. Sometimes with a quick glance one does not note that it is an insect. It looks like a hummingbird in coloration, shape, and size. It hovers like a hummingbird. It is slightly smaller but not by much. But, it does have feathery antennae one of the telltale signatures of a moth. It has insect body parts although the head, thorax and abdomen seem like one body part. Unlike many common moths it is active during the day. It is typically found visiting flowers for nectar along with hummingbirds.

This species (Hermaris thysbe) is colored olive green and red. To me, it looks a lot like a lobster with wings. Some of the photos that I have taken make it look like it is hanging on the outside of a reef. It has a very lobster like back end. It has bands or stripes on its abdomen, and this exoskeleton makes it appear similar a lobster.

Tufts of hair on the abdomen are feathery looking which give it a bird like appearance. The wings are mostly clear and beat rapidly and issue an audible buzz, not unlike a hummingbird.

The insect has a long thin proboscis which is the nectar sipping mouthpart.

Some of my photographs look like it is a lobster on a coral reef. The reef being the flowers.

The female lays eggs on host plants that include honeysuckle, hawthorns, viburnum and Black Cherry, and Black-eyed Susan. The caterpillars are yellowish green with darker green lines and reddish spots on the sides. They have a yellow tail horn. When the caterpillars are fully grown they climb down the host plant and into the soil where they make a cocoon and become a pupa.

If it is early in the season when they pupate they adults will emerge in a few weeks. If it is in the fall, the moths won’t emerge until the following spring.

Adult Hummingbird Moths feed on nectar from many sources. At Protection Farm they are often found at the Bee Balm, Joe Pye Weed, Milkweed, Butterfly Bush, and other nectar sources. They are a lot of fun to watch as they hover, and curl and uncurl their spectacular proboscis.

There are only three kinds in the animal kingdom of hovering nectar feeders. Hummingbirds, certain bats, and these sphingids.

Some of the sphingids are the fastest flying insects, capable of flying at over 30 miles per hour.