Hummingbird moth.

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by mazambo, Jun 13, 2022.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Really good photo @pete
     
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    • strongylodon

      strongylodon Old Member

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      I have had a few over the years but not this year yet, usually later in Summer.
       
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      • mazambo

        mazambo Forever Learning

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        Just had another visit, just feeding the strawberries and it was right next to me, I hope this is a sign of things to come.
         
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        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          The thing I noticed is they are apparently not scared off by you getting quite close.
           
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            I saw one today on our phlox, it was a fleeting visit and I wasn't quick enough to take a photo. Quite a magical little insect.
             
          • noisette47

            noisette47 Total Gardener

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            Aren't they beautiful? We've always had the small version here, but it's the first year we've been visited by their big cousins. (two last night). I don't grow valerian and scrapped the Oenothera speciosa and Araujia sericifera when I realised that the moths were being trapped in the flowers and were usually dead of exhaustion before being released some hours later. They seem happy with Lavender, Jasmine and Stephanotis :)
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              Ok so that's why you sent me the araujia seeds a few years ago.:nonofinger::biggrin:
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Mine visited again today, firstly at breakfast and I got close enough to get a still:

                20220815_085456 (2).jpg


                Then around 7:30pm two of them appeared for quite a while, they were buzzing around me, they don't seem scared so I got close (set to super slow-mo):
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  That's where I spotted ours. :blue thumb: (On our phlox, not yours :heehee:)
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    It's fascinating watching them sticking in their extremely long tongues.
                     
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                    • noisette47

                      noisette47 Total Gardener

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                      Reading up on them, the larvae feed on Galium odoratum, Sweet Woodruff, so a good ground cover to plant if you want more :)
                       
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                      • mazambo

                        mazambo Forever Learning

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                        Brilliant :yes:
                        I read they feed on lady's bedstraw and madder plant too, already had the bedstraw and bought a madder plant which has shot up in a short time.
                        20220622_122831.jpg 16606566429078908700582803390369.jpg
                         
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