This pretty moth is a White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata), they are found throughout much of North America, as well as Central America. These are very common sphinx moths in Missouri, and are often mistaken for hummingbirds as they flit and flutter around flowers nectaring at the blooms. Which has also earned them the name of hummingbird moths. White-lined sphinx moths are medium sized with about a 3 3/4 inch wingspan. The upperwings are olive-brown with lighter brown edges There is a white line running from the wingtips to the base, there are also many white lines along the veins, which is where their common name is derived from.
The caterpillars are quite large when mature and may reach lengths up to 4 inches. They vary somewhat in appearance, but generally have a black back. They will feed on a wide variety of hosts including Four O' Clocks, Apple, Fuschia, Purslane, Evening Primrose, Grape, WillowWeed, Elm and Tomato. The adults take nectar from flowers, like wild sweet william. They are common in backyard gardens, but will also be found in desserts as well as other Rural, and Suburban areas.
I haven't seen this at this house, but at my last 2 they came in on my petunias.I always keep a pot of petunias on my patio in hopes of a return visitor.
ReplyDeleteAWEsome. I LOVE that creature. They DO look like hummers when buzzing around-fairly astounding. Saw a legion of the caterpillars one trip to the Anza-Borrego desert. They were COVERING some of the bushes there. Honkers! What an amazing shot of the moth feeding--wow. =)
ReplyDeleteIf you are in Iowa you should have them around somewhere, they are pretty abundant around the midwest....although I will say this year the number of sphinx moths seems to be down.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bio. I've tried for many many years to get a shot like that! This was pure luck!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteFirst summer I've seen them here in Delaware! I have one who is extremely friendly and loves my petunias.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you to be able to see one for the first time. These moths are so beautiful and fun to watch.
ReplyDeletei just snapped a few pictures of this moth hovering over my flowers at nightime ....I was amazed of its size....about 3-4 inches long and about 1-1.5 inches wide....it reminded me of a humming bird searching for nectar....very cool
ReplyDeletei have a huge tomato garden right beside my flowers, and by what i have read, they like tomato gardens...im from winnipeg, manitoba, canada..
These large hovering moths are often called Hummingbird Moths as they do very much resemble them when in flight hovering over flowers. This particular moth usually will pick other species of plants to feed on as caterpillars, although they have been reported to feed on tomatoes. They typically will feed on Four O' Clocks, Apple, Fuschia, Purslane, Evening Primrose, Grape, Willow Weed,and Elm. The main culprit of tomato damage is the Tomato Hornworm, it also grows up to be a large Sphinx Moth, but has orange spots on it's abdomen. They are larger than this White-lined species. The caterpillars can get up to 3 or 4 inches long and as big around as a cigar and are bright green with a "tail" protruding from one end.
ReplyDeleteI just saw one of these yesterday at dusk in the Laurentians, north of Montreal. It was feeding on the nectar of my Impatiens. I was lucky to get a good profile photo that shows its striped wings.
ReplyDeleteIona that is so cool that you managed a good profile shot of these fast fliers. I've tried for years before I managed the shot pictured here.
ReplyDeleteOne was sighted in a flower bed in Deloraine, Manitoba which is rare in our Province.
ReplyDeleteNot so rare for Eastern Manitoba as I have seen them over the last few years and finally snapped a pic of one today,
ReplyDeleteI have seen the moths around some plants in past years, but today I found the caterpillar crossing the street. I brought him home to my garden.
ReplyDeleteWe are freaked out. Here in Northern New Mexico, coming out of a multiyear drought (hopefully) its been rainy on/off for weeks. Right now there are THOUSANDS of these buggers (literally, not figuratively). They are all over, everywhere. In the field next to our house, you can't hardly take a step without squishing one, or sometimes two or three at a time. Yeah, we've always had a number of the adult moths, but have never seen more than a few of the larvae. Might be because few predators around due to drought. Spooky.
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