Tag Archives: Humming-bird Hawk-moth

Bright green caterpillar on some leaves

Humming-bird Hawk-moth caterpillar. Photo: Lyn Pullen

Lyn Pullen says:

I found a bright green caterpillar in my garden and at first thought it was an Angle Shades, but on close inspection it had a spur on its tail, so it was a Hawk-moth. Consulting the books, it looked likely to be a Humming-bird Hawk-moth, and checking with colleagues, this was agreed.

This moth is mainly a migrant to the UK, but is also known to breed here on occasions; I have seen several adult Humming-bird Hawk-moths around and I have some good bedstraw plants in the garden, so it looks like I’ve got them breeding. It was looking a bit limp when I found it, and I suspect it had somehow been separated from its foodplant, but giving it some bedstraw cheered it up and it’s now buried deep in the plant, away from predators. They overwinter as adults, so hopefully this one will find some shelter when it emerges: it’s welcome to share my greenhouse!

Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Weymouth

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view of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth resting on a window sill inside a house

Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Photo: George McCabe

George found this Hummingbird Hawk Moth in his house at Weymouth on 4/07/18 and says when he tried to catch it to put it safely outside, it played dead!

An immigrant species which sometimes occurs in large numbers, especially if there’s an extended period of warm weather or southerly airflow.

It flies in the sunshine and hovers in front of flowers, sipping the nectar with its long proboscis, very much like the hummingbird which gives it its name.

The larvae feed on bedstraw (Galium), and some of these may hatch and give rise to autumn adults in an influx year.

Painted Lady and Friend

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Painted Lady & Friend

Painted Lady & Friend. Photo: John Van Crugten

Another excellent shot, this time showing a Painted Lady butterfly in the foreground with a Humming-bird Hawk-moth darting past in the background! Photographed on 19/09/2015.

If you have spotted either of these species, please report your sightings to Butterfly Conservation’s Migrant Watch Survey.

Early Humming-bird Hawk-moth

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Humming-bird Hawk-moth nectring on a hyacinth flower

Hummingbird Hawkmoth on hyacinth. Photo: Richard Gillingham.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth photographed on 12/03 2015 by Richard Gillingham.

This is not a moth we’d be expecting to see at this time of year. Richard Gillingham says:

When I spotted the Humming-bird Hawk-moth in the garden, I rushed upstairs to fetch my camera but forgot to switch it to “Quick shutter” before taking the photos – so they are all far less than perfect!

I recalled the Portland Bird Observatory website had recently noted the sighting of a humming-bird hawk-moth and wanted photographic proof one had also visited Pymore. It circled at least 3 of our flowering hyacinths, drinking the nectar and was a sight I would normally only expect to see in the summer months. After c5 minutes it flew out of the garden, hopefully to find more flowering plants… Had it overwintered or was it just an early migratory arrival, I don’t know?

If you are interested in learning more about this moth in Dorset, have a look at our sister website from the Dorset Moth Group.