Posted on Aug 9, 2019
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane! No It’s… - Great American Wildlife
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I think this is fascinating...it's not a bird!
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane! No It’s… - Great American Wildlife
Posted from greatamericanwildlife.com
Wildlife
Science
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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I would say "Sphinx Moth" but I can't get to the article. I *have* to sign up first.
When we first saw a Sphinx Moth we thought it was a humming bird. We would see them every once in a great while in Colorado. Gorgeous creatures.
When we first saw a Sphinx Moth we thought it was a humming bird. We would see them every once in a great while in Colorado. Gorgeous creatures.
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SSG William Jones
Lt Col Charlie Brown
Just saw this. We have Sphinx Moths but I don't think that I've seen a Hummingbird Moth in my A.O.
Just saw this. We have Sphinx Moths but I don't think that I've seen a Hummingbird Moth in my A.O.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Wikipedia:
The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera), commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms; it includes about 1,450 species.[1] It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region.[2] They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability.[2] Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight. The family was named by French zoologist Pierre André Latreille in 1802.
Some hawk moths, such as the hummingbird hawk-moth or the white-lined sphinx, hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, so are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. This hovering capability is only known to have evolved four times in nectar feeders: in hummingbirds, certain bats, hoverflies, and these sphingids[3] (an example of convergent evolution). Sphingids have been much studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called "swing-hovering" or "side-slipping". This is thought to have evolved to deal with ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers.[3]
Sphingids are some of the faster flying insects; some are capable of flying at over 5.3 m/s (12 miles per hour).[4] They have wingspans from 4 to over 10 cm (3.9 in).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphingidae
The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera), commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms; it includes about 1,450 species.[1] It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region.[2] They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability.[2] Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight. The family was named by French zoologist Pierre André Latreille in 1802.
Some hawk moths, such as the hummingbird hawk-moth or the white-lined sphinx, hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, so are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. This hovering capability is only known to have evolved four times in nectar feeders: in hummingbirds, certain bats, hoverflies, and these sphingids[3] (an example of convergent evolution). Sphingids have been much studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called "swing-hovering" or "side-slipping". This is thought to have evolved to deal with ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers.[3]
Sphingids are some of the faster flying insects; some are capable of flying at over 5.3 m/s (12 miles per hour).[4] They have wingspans from 4 to over 10 cm (3.9 in).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphingidae
The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera), commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms; it includes about 1,450 species.[1] It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region.[2] They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability.[2] Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight. The family was named by...
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For those who could not read the article:
Hummingbird moths are not birds, although initially that thought crossed my mind as well. Instead of a beak they have a tongue of sorts (properly known as a proboscis) that allows them to hover in front of flowers and sip the nectar from them.
I spot a lot of hummingbird moths near hibiscus flowers along the river near where I live. They are good pollinators of a number of flowering plants. They feed mostly in the day which means they are diurnal. I see most of them feeding in the late summer.
In Virginia and many other places, their larvae feed on leaves of honeysuckle plans. They will feed on vine leaves and shrubs too. The larvae looks like a horned green caterpillar because they often develop a large horn at the end of their body.
While hummers have a “buzz” or distinct vibration that even my poor ears can pick up, I hear nothing when close to the hummingbird moth. When I looked closely at one of these creatures once it landed, I could see they had clear wings much like other large insects such as horseflies. They do have a long tail which can throw off viewers at first.
These insects also have a furry look to them and appear soft. They do not bite or sting so they are not a threat to humans.
Their bright coloration and the fact that they feed during the day would make them easy prey as insects but I suspect because they look a lot like a small hummingbird, they get overlooked by some predators and therefore survive.
However, they are smaller than hummingbirds by a few inches. In the US we generally have the clearwing hummingbird moth as the most common. Females lay a few hundred eggs on a plant, normally something like honeysuckle.
The eggs take about a week to hatch and the female may actually lay a second set of eggs before the summer is over. As stated above, the larvae feed on leaves.
The pupae stage puts the insect in a brownish cocoon often hidden near dead leaves so it blends in. They hatch out and the proboscis is the first part of the insect to jut out of the cocoon. They are said to be able to fly very shortly after emerging from their cocoon.
The life span of the hummingbird moth is usually one season (approximately 6-8 months) although some live only weeks. So, they complete their entire life cycle between spring and fall.
Planting the same bushes (butterfly bush) or flowering plants that you would plant for hummingbirds will also attract hummingbird moths too. Trumpet type flowers or other deep flowers are favorites of these insects.
So, the next time you see one of these creatures, ask the person that is with you if they know what they are seeing and enjoy educating them on one of our more unique insects!
Hummingbird moths are not birds, although initially that thought crossed my mind as well. Instead of a beak they have a tongue of sorts (properly known as a proboscis) that allows them to hover in front of flowers and sip the nectar from them.
I spot a lot of hummingbird moths near hibiscus flowers along the river near where I live. They are good pollinators of a number of flowering plants. They feed mostly in the day which means they are diurnal. I see most of them feeding in the late summer.
In Virginia and many other places, their larvae feed on leaves of honeysuckle plans. They will feed on vine leaves and shrubs too. The larvae looks like a horned green caterpillar because they often develop a large horn at the end of their body.
While hummers have a “buzz” or distinct vibration that even my poor ears can pick up, I hear nothing when close to the hummingbird moth. When I looked closely at one of these creatures once it landed, I could see they had clear wings much like other large insects such as horseflies. They do have a long tail which can throw off viewers at first.
These insects also have a furry look to them and appear soft. They do not bite or sting so they are not a threat to humans.
Their bright coloration and the fact that they feed during the day would make them easy prey as insects but I suspect because they look a lot like a small hummingbird, they get overlooked by some predators and therefore survive.
However, they are smaller than hummingbirds by a few inches. In the US we generally have the clearwing hummingbird moth as the most common. Females lay a few hundred eggs on a plant, normally something like honeysuckle.
The eggs take about a week to hatch and the female may actually lay a second set of eggs before the summer is over. As stated above, the larvae feed on leaves.
The pupae stage puts the insect in a brownish cocoon often hidden near dead leaves so it blends in. They hatch out and the proboscis is the first part of the insect to jut out of the cocoon. They are said to be able to fly very shortly after emerging from their cocoon.
The life span of the hummingbird moth is usually one season (approximately 6-8 months) although some live only weeks. So, they complete their entire life cycle between spring and fall.
Planting the same bushes (butterfly bush) or flowering plants that you would plant for hummingbirds will also attract hummingbird moths too. Trumpet type flowers or other deep flowers are favorites of these insects.
So, the next time you see one of these creatures, ask the person that is with you if they know what they are seeing and enjoy educating them on one of our more unique insects!
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SSG William Jones
OUTSTANDING!!! Thank you, Lt Col Charlie Brown, for this excellent information. These must be a close relative to the Sphinx Moths.
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