Hummingbird hawkmoth, Leziate, Dave Martin 1/3
Hummingbird hawkmoth, Sculthorpe, Bob Carpenter 2/3
Hummingbird hawkmoth, David North 3/3

Hummingbird hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum

The hummingbird hawk-moth is a species of Sphingidae. Its long proboscis and its hovering behavior, accompanied by an audible humming noise, make it look remarkably like a hummingbird while feeding on flowers.

Conservation status

At one of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s coastal reserves, the hummingbird hawk-moth is a regular visitor, appearing in early June. Caterpillars of this species have been seen, so we know they breed in Norfolk, but the question is are they able to hibernate and survive the cold Norfolk winter? If the predicted warmer winters due to global warming occur, it could mean that the hummingbird hawk-moth will become resident.

Related questions & advice

What is the difference between moths and butterflies?

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Did you know?

This beautiful day-flying moth is reputed to be a messenger of good tidings. A small swarm of hummingbird hawk-moths was reported flying over the English Channel heading to England from France – the day they were seen was D-day, 1944!

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