BajaNomad - It's A Bird, It's a Plane; It's a MOTH?

It's A Bird, It's a Plane; It's a MOTH?

DianaT - 2-26-2013 at 09:35 AM

John called me out to see this creature. It looked like a very large fat moth, but we thought it could not be because of its long proboscis, and its fast moving wings and the way it quickly darted around, just like a hummingbird.

But then we "googled" it and bingo, we think it was a Hummingbird Hawk --- a moth that looks and acts like a hummingbird!

Now can any of you experts tell us if we are correct?

[Edited on 2-26-2013 by DianaT]

Osprey - 2-26-2013 at 09:39 AM

Common name is Sphinx Moth. Got a million of em around here now.

Bob H - 2-26-2013 at 09:42 AM

I think you nailed it. Hummingbird Hawkmoth....

http://www.arkive.org/hummingbird-hawkmoth/macroglossum-stel...

ecomujeres - 2-26-2013 at 09:52 AM

Definitely not the species that Bob H linked to, but the right family. Looks more like a White-lined sphinx (Hyles lineata). Remember people talking about all those huge green and yellow striped caterpillars after all the rain? Guess what? Same critter. Check it out here for example:

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/jan/papr/sphinx.html

Cool!

shari - 2-26-2013 at 10:33 AM

there are more than I have ever seen before around here these days...one guest remarked on how strange it was the hummingbirds are out at night here! hahaha

Pompano - 2-26-2013 at 10:45 AM

Been tons of those around Coyote Bay ever since I can remember. My gato had a ball at night...stalking, then springing way, way up there and snagging them for a snack. That cat coulda been a contender for the feline olympics.

Next morning we'd sweep up the wings minus the body ....which the cat left on the patio. Rather gruesome, but hey, a cat is a cat.

Sometimes it was another type of nightwings and incurred a beheading. Just a reminder....Don't fly around too much at night...

[Edited on 2-26-2013 by Pompano]

BajaBlanca - 2-26-2013 at 11:34 AM

they are all over here too and they bump into all the windows ...

bajajudy - 2-26-2013 at 11:41 AM

They say it is from all the rain.
We have moths that I have never seen before and lots of them.

DianaT - 2-26-2013 at 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
Been tons of those around Coyote Bay ever since I can remember. My gato had a ball at night...stalking, then springing way, way up there and snagging them for a snack. That cat coulda been a contender for the feline olympics.

Next morning we'd sweep up the wings minus the body ....which the cat left on the patio. Rather gruesome, but hey, a cat is a cat.

Sometimes it was another type of nightwings and incurred a beheading. Just a reminder....Don't fly around too much at night...

[Edited on 2-26-2013 by Pompano]

By leaving some evidence of his hunt, that cat just wanted to let you know he was earning his keep. :-)

The one we had looked a bit different than the one in your photo --- thinner and straighter wings and quite a bit of pink--but your moth was easier to photograph. D :lol:

Can't tell you how many pictures it took to capture this guy. Then again, this guy never held still so we could not get a great look at him.

Does look like the one ecomujeres suggested. We have not seen any at night so far, just this one out feeding in the middle of the day. I just love the curved proboscis that he straightens out while eating.

[Edited on 2-26-2013 by DianaT]