|
|
A Very Cool Moth....Night Feeding
|
|
|
|
|
hummingbird3172
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 22 May 2007
Location: Zone 9b Saint Cloud, FL
Posts: 269
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:06 am Post subject: A Very Cool Moth....Night Feeding |
|
I took the doggie out the other evening and then something hummingbird sized was whirring around me...I figured it was a moth so I grabbed my camera.....it was!
The eyes are so cool...they catch the light like a cat's!
_________________
~Anna 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
Posts: 6683
PlantStew: 219 |
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:10 am Post subject: |
|
I like that moth too hummimgbird.I wonder what kind it is?
_________________
Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 4369
PlantStew: 5671 |
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:05 am Post subject: |
|
A hummingbird size moth? My goodness! Well done to manage such a good photo of it.
_________________
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
|
|
| Back to top |
|
eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11123
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:47 am Post subject: |
|
Great photograph of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth!!!!  You're spot on - they are the size of a hummingbird and many people actually mistake them for the birds themselves if they are seen in the garden during daylight. They hover with rapid wingbeats in the same way the birds do to feed and when they dip their proboscis into a bloom it is often mistaken for a beak.
_________________
 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
bethie
Highly Skillful
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Location: WestTennessee (Map)
Posts: 1593
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:42 pm Post subject: |
|
Oh, we love these dudes. We plant moonvines on the pergola so we can watch them from inside. They are one of the few things that can feed on the angel trumpets. We look for brown dust in them and know these great moths are in the neighborhood. 
_________________
Ready to Grow?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
RenneP
Just Arrived
Joined: 09 May 2007
Location: North Louisiana
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: |
|
I have these large beauties too. Thanks for the ID. They visit the white and the lavender moon vine blooms, the daturas and the 4 o'clocks every evening. I really enjoy watching them enjoy the blooms too.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Netty
Chaotic Gardener
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5
Posts: 4446
PlantStew: 4327 |
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:31 pm Post subject: |
|
How cool! Are these the guys that come from those nasty Tomato Hornworms? I've given a tomato plant to one of those this year. And they come out at night?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11123
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject: |
|
You're right Netty the caterpillars are known as hornworms.
The moths can be seen during the day as well as at night but they domainly feed at night.
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Location: North Texas (Map)
Posts: 5196
PlantStew: 521 |
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:53 pm Post subject: |
|
| Netty wrote: | | How cool! Are these the guys that come from those nasty Tomato Hornworms? I've given a tomato plant to one of those this year. And they come out at night? |
Yes, the Tomato Hornworm becomes the Five-Spotted Hawk Moth, the one hummingbird's picture.The yellow spots on the body are what gives this one it's name of Five-Spotted Hawk Moth.
The Hummingbird Hawk-moth is a different moth, it has orange on it's wings and doesn't have the yellow spots on it's body.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
You're looking at one of the many forums on GardenStew.com. Register for free to join in the discussion.
|
|
|
|
Bookmark us 
Subscribe
