what is it?

[trlcavscout]

A couple of these showed up while my wife was planting flowers last night and now they are back. Anybody know what they are?

[theGinsue]

I've always called them hummingbird moths. I saw my first one here in CO about 15 years ago. The danged thing buzzed me and it scared the living poop right out of me.

Officially, Hemaris (aka Hummingbird moth, Clearwing moth)


While I think this is more accurate to the one's I've seen, they say these aren't here in the U.S.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroglossum_stellatarum

Macroglossum stellatarum, known as the Hummingbird Hawk-moth or sometimes the Hummingmoth, is a species of Sphingidae. Its long proboscis and its hovering behaviour, accompanied by an audible humming noise, make it look remarkably like a hummingbird while feeding on flowers. It shouldn't be confused with the moths called hummingbird moths in North America, genus Hemaris, members of the same family and with similar appearance and behavior. The resemblance to hummingbirds is an example of convergent evolution. It flies during the day, especially in bright sunshine, but also at dusk,[1] dawn, and even in the rain, which is unusual for even diurnal hawkmoths.[2] Its visual abilities have been much studied, and it has been shown to have a relatively good ability to learn colours.[3]

This is supposedly what we have here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemaris

Hemaris is a Holarctic genus of sphinx moths, consisting of about 17 species living in the Holarctic[1], four of which fly in North and South America, three fly in Europe.[2] Their main host plants are herbs and shrubs of the Dipsacaceae (Teasel) and Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) families. Moths in the Hemaris genus are collectively called Clearwing Moths or Hummingbird Moths in the US, and Bee Hawk-Moths in Britain.

[Adawg38]

Target practice?

[lpgasman]

A flower throwing up a huge bumble bee.

[XC700116]

A big ass moth that hurts like a beotch when you're on your motorcycle with your visor open. DAMHIK

[trlcavscout]

I've always called them hummingbird moths. I saw my first one here in CO about 15 years ago. The danged thing buzzed me and it scared the living poop right out of me.

Officially, Hemaris (aka Hummingbird moth, Clearwing moth)


While I think this is more accurate to the one's I've seen, they say these aren't here in the U.S.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroglossum_stellatarum



This is supposedly what we have here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemaris

Thats what it is, thanks! I was trying to google it but didnt know where to start.

[Mtn.man]

They are really cool to watch.
The humming birds seem baffled at them because they can't scare them away.

[trlcavscout]

They are really cool to watch.
The humming birds seem baffled at them because they can't scare them away.

Ya they were coming up to the flowers while she was planting and i was running a 3" conduit under the sidewalk for the soaker hose. They dont spook easy. They are cool to watch up close.

[rutz777]

If you whisper into it's tiny moth ears, giant eagles will come rescue you off of the top of Isengard tower. True story. Look it up.

[quondom fremd]

we always called them Goliath Moths