Hummingbird hawk-moth - anyone seen one this summer?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by LazyMonkey, Sep 25, 2011.

  1. LazyMonkey

    LazyMonkey Apprentice Gardener

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    This afternoon whilst repairing the shed, I noticed an amazing bee/moth insect that looked like a small hummingbird. It's wings were beating so fast and made an audible hum, as it fed on our large flower urns.

    Really fantastic to watch, so just had to check on the web and try to identify it. Turns out to be a Hummingbird Hawk-moth from North Africa. Stunning creature.

    We live in the South of England (Kent) - anyone else seen one this summer?
     

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    • Bilbo675

      Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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      I've seen plenty of normal hawk moths in the garden but the hummingbird - not to my knowledge anyway :D
       
    • Naylors Ark

      Naylors Ark Struggling to tame her French acres.

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      There are lots here. The flowers are full of them. But then I'm in France. :cool:
      I used to see the occasional one when I lived in Dorset.:)
       
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      • Phil A

        Phil A Guest

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        Not since last summer. They are lovely.
         
      • Phil A

        Phil A Guest

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        Brilliant Pics BTW:dbgrtmb:
         
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        • Aesculus

          Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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          I used to see a fair few on the Isle of Wight but not here in West Sussex:)
           
        • Pixie

          Pixie Gardener

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          They look gorgeous, i wouldn't have a hope in seeing one up North here, but perhaps in Italy one day.,as it is a lot hotter there. Did you notice the type of plants are they attracted to?:)
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Not seen any this year, I've only seen them a couple of times in the south.
           
        • LazyMonkey

          LazyMonkey Apprentice Gardener

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          Strangely it was geraniums and trailing surfinia. Hope to see them again !
           
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          • redstar

            redstar Total Gardener

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            Those are so pretty. Really interesting. We have maybe similar --- called a Fur Bee, it flys around like a humming bird on flowers. Don't have pics.
             
          • Aesculus

            Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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            • Phil A

              Phil A Guest

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              • Naylors Ark

                Naylors Ark Struggling to tame her French acres.

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                Is this the same insect Redstar?

                Greater bee fly:
                [​IMG]

                They're very cute. There's an even smaller version but I haven't managed to photograph one of them.:heehee:
                 
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                • Phil A

                  Phil A Guest

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                  • Victoria

                    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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                    We have the Hummingbird Hawk Moths here in Algarve. I had one on my kitchen patio this summer. They are such cute little critters but too quick for me to photograph sadly ... it is at such times when you wish you had photographic lenses in your eyes ... :)

                     
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