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+--- Thread: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? (/showthread.php?tid=260533)
Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - PeterB - 10-09-2021
Just saw several of these guys, they seemed to be going especially crazy for my plumbago and lantana.
I took photos, but I'm not sure they're even worth posting, because with the low light and especially the speed with which they were moving (they were unbelievably fast), it was nearly impossible to get a decent shot. Nevertheless, here are some pics: https://imgur.com/a/k78ZLSr
I've never seen these before, nor so many at once, so I'm just guessing and maybe someone here can verify. (I know for sure they're NOT hummingbirds, because I've seen a real hummingbird on the plumbago a week or so ago.)
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - Acer - 10-09-2021
Clearwing moth aka Hummingbird moth. Cute little things.
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - voodoopenguin - 10-09-2021
A little video my daughter took four years ago in her garden.
https://youtu.be/prZ8nlqQedE
Paul
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - MartyStickle - 10-09-2021
voodoopenguin wrote:
A little video my daughter took four years ago in her garden.
https://youtu.be/prZ8nlqQedE
Paul
Really nice.
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - PeterB - 10-09-2021
voodoopenguin wrote:
A little video my daughter took four years ago in her garden.
https://youtu.be/prZ8nlqQedE
Paul
Wow, I didn't get anywhere near such a good look as that ... mine seemed very skittish and would tend to fly away if I approached. (Also they were all out there at dusk, so the lighting was terrible.)
I take it these things aren't considered pests, since they're pollinators?
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - Acer - 10-09-2021
PeterB wrote:
[quote=voodoopenguin]
A little video my daughter took four years ago in her garden.
https://youtu.be/prZ8nlqQedE
Paul
Wow, I didn't get anywhere near such a good look as that ... mine seemed very skittish and would tend to fly away if I approached. (Also they were all out there at dusk, so the lighting was terrible.)
I take it these things aren't considered pests, since they're pollinators?
The caterpillars can damage some plants. They are in the Sphinx family with tomato hornworms and the like. But, being native insects to North America, I say that's our problem, not theirs.
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - PeterB - 10-09-2021
Acer wrote:
[quote=PeterB]
[quote=voodoopenguin]
A little video my daughter took four years ago in her garden.
https://youtu.be/prZ8nlqQedE
Paul
Wow, I didn't get anywhere near such a good look as that ... mine seemed very skittish and would tend to fly away if I approached. (Also they were all out there at dusk, so the lighting was terrible.)
I take it these things aren't considered pests, since they're pollinators?
The caterpillars can damage some plants. They are in the Sphinx family with tomato hornworms and the like. But, being native insects to North America, I say that's our problem, not theirs.
I saw that, but it looks like the plants the adults are interested in are not the ones the caterpillars like to eat?
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - Acer - 10-09-2021
PeterB wrote:
[quote=Acer]
[quote=PeterB]
[quote=voodoopenguin]
A little video my daughter took four years ago in her garden.
https://youtu.be/prZ8nlqQedE
Paul
Wow, I didn't get anywhere near such a good look as that ... mine seemed very skittish and would tend to fly away if I approached. (Also they were all out there at dusk, so the lighting was terrible.)
I take it these things aren't considered pests, since they're pollinators?
The caterpillars can damage some plants. They are in the Sphinx family with tomato hornworms and the like. But, being native insects to North America, I say that's our problem, not theirs.
I saw that, but it looks like the plants the adults are interested in are not the ones the caterpillars like to eat?
Correct. The adults like large, open flowers like bee balm, coneflower, sunflower. etc. The caterpillars, at least the ones that are most notable agricultural nuisances like things in the potato and tomato families.
Re: Not hummingbirds, maybe hummingbird moths? - PeterB - 10-10-2021
Acer wrote:
[quote=PeterB]
[quote=Acer]
[quote=PeterB]
[quote=voodoopenguin]
A little video my daughter took four years ago in her garden.
https://youtu.be/prZ8nlqQedE
Paul
Wow, I didn't get anywhere near such a good look as that ... mine seemed very skittish and would tend to fly away if I approached. (Also they were all out there at dusk, so the lighting was terrible.)
I take it these things aren't considered pests, since they're pollinators?
The caterpillars can damage some plants. They are in the Sphinx family with tomato hornworms and the like. But, being native insects to North America, I say that's our problem, not theirs.
I saw that, but it looks like the plants the adults are interested in are not the ones the caterpillars like to eat?
Correct. The adults like large, open flowers like bee balm, coneflower, sunflower. etc. The caterpillars, at least the ones that are most notable agricultural nuisances like things in the potato and tomato families.
Ahhh, good. So these guys are in the "good" category then, because I presume they're good pollinators (at least, that's how it looked to me!) ... I was surprised they were making such good use of the plumbago, because apparently it's not a good choice for pollinators: http://blueridgediscoveryproject.blogspot.com/2009/11/problem-with-plumbago-how-to-think-like.html