Scientific Name: Macroglossum stellatarum (Sphingidae).
English Name: Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Hawk moth family).
French Name: Le Moro sphinx.
5 Key Characters:
- Day flying.
- Most often observed flitting from flower to flower and hovering in front of flowers like a humming bird.
- The wings make an audible hum.
- Dull mottled brown upper wings, strong ochre hind wings and a black and white checkerboard patterned tail.
- Feeds by sucking nectar from flowers using long hinged proboscis while on the wing.
Lookalikes: Broad-bordered Bee Hawk Moth Hemaris fuciformis, which has clear wings and a rust and golden body. Lime Hawk Moth Mimas tilae, which has ragged wing edges, a more camouflaged pattern, and does not feed (has no mouthparts including no proboscis).
Habitat: Gardens.
Flight Period: All year.
Caterpillar: Green or brown, typical hawk moth caterpillar, with a spike at the rear. Food plant is bedstraws Gallium spp.
Status: Common.
Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:
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| Nectaring on Buddleia davidii. |
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| Nectaring on Buddleia davidii. |
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| Nectaring on Buddleia davidii. |
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| Nectaring on Buddleia davidii. |
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| Nectaring on Fragrant Orchid Gymnodenia conopsea. |
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| Nectaring on Fragrant Orchid Gymnodenia conopsea. |
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