# Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth (*Macroglossum stellatarum*) The Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth is a special insect that looks like a tiny hummingbird! It flits around flowers, sipping nectar with its long tongue, just like a bird. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Gardens and meadows ![Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Macroglossum_stellatarum_%283%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Thomas Bresson, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macroglossum_stellatarum_%283%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth has tawny-brown forewings and bright orange-yellow hindwings, with a distinct black and white checkered abdomen. It possesses a long, slender proboscis and large eyes, giving it a bird-like appearance distinct from most moths. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Sphingidae - **Genus:** Macroglossum ## Interesting facts - It's a champion traveler, migrating hundreds of miles each year! - Its caterpillars munch on plants called bedstraw, then turn into moths! - This amazing moth can remember the best flowers from day to day! - You might hear a soft humming sound as it zips past you! ## Special abilities - **Hover Master:** Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth can hover perfectly still in mid-air because of its incredibly fast wing beats, allowing it to feed precisely. - **Long Tongue Nectar Sipper:** Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth has a very long proboscis that helps them reach nectar deep inside flowers that other insects cannot access. - **Daylight Dynamo:** Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth can fly and feed during the day because of its sharp vision, making it unique among most moths. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-50 mm - **Size:** 30-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-180 days - **Flight Speed:** 48 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This moth sips sweet nectar from flowers using its super long straw-like tongue! - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on bedstraw plants before becoming nectar-sipping adults. - **Primary Foods:** honeysuckle nectar, phlox nectar, verbena nectar, buddleia nectar, jasmine nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honeysuckle) (*Lonicera periclymenum*) — Helps transfer pollen while collecting nectar. - **Eats:** lady's bedstraw (*Galium verum*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves before pupating. - **Eaten by:** greater mouse-eared bat (*Myotis myotis*) — Adult moths can become a food source for bats. - **Pollinates:** garden phlox (*Phlox paniculata*) — Visits these flowers for nectar, aiding reproduction. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These moths are not harmful, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth's wingspan? 40-50 mm ### How big is Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth? 30-35 mm ### How long does Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth live? 20-180 days ### How fast can Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth fly? 48 km/h ### What does Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth eat? This moth sips sweet nectar from flowers using its super long straw-like tongue! ### Where is Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth usually found? Gardens and meadows ### How does Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Pine Hill Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pine-hill-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Naturpark Altmühltal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/altmuhl-valley-nature-park) — Bayern, DE · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Eurasian Hummingbird Hawkmoth Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-hummingbird-hawkmoth)