# Hummingbird Hawk-Moth (*Hemaris thysbe*) The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth looks like a tiny hummingbird as it flits from flower to flower. It has a fuzzy body and beautiful wings! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Gardens and fields - **Also known as:** Clearwing Moth ![Hummingbird Hawk-Moth](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426264/objects/5487.jpg) ## Appearance The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth has a stout, furry, olive-brown body with a reddish-brown band near its tail. Its wings are mostly clear with dark edges, and the hindwings have a distinctive reddish tint. This moth looks strikingly similar to a hummingbird, but it's an insect! ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Sphingidae - **Genus:** Hemaris ## Interesting facts - Hummingbird Hawk-Moths can fly backward while hovering, a tricky maneuver few insects can do. - Some Hummingbird Hawk-Moths can migrate thousands of kilometers to warmer climates for winter. - Their wings beat so fast, they make a humming sound just like a hummingbird! - They use their feet to 'taste' flowers before deciding to feed on their nectar. ## Special abilities - **Hovering Master:** Hummingbird Hawk-Moth can hover perfectly still while feeding because of its incredibly fast-beating wings that provide precise aerial control. - **Nectar Noodle Tongue:** Hummingbird Hawk-Moth has a super long proboscis that helps them reach deep inside flowers to sip nectar others can't. - **Daylight Dashing:** Hummingbird Hawk-Moth can fly and forage actively during the day, unlike most moths, because they navigate well in bright light. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-55 mm - **Size:** 35-50 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-40 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These fuzzy moths drink sweet nectar from colorful flowers using their amazing, long straw-like tongues. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) munch on leaves of host plants, while adult moths feed solely on nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar (from Honeysuckle), Nectar (from Phlox), Nectar (from Verbena), Nectar (from Bee Balm), Nectar (from Lilies) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Limber Honeysuckle (*Lonicera dioica*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** Garden Phlox (*Phlox paniculata*) — Adult moths drink its nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Birds might prey on moths. - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Bats hunt adult moths at dusk. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [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. - [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. - [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) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hummingbird Hawk-Moth? 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 Hummingbird Hawk-Moth's wingspan? 40-55 mm ### How big is Hummingbird Hawk-Moth? 35-50 mm ### How long does Hummingbird Hawk-Moth live? 20-40 days ### How fast can Hummingbird Hawk-Moth fly? 25 km/h ### What does Hummingbird Hawk-Moth eat? These fuzzy moths drink sweet nectar from colorful flowers using their amazing, long straw-like tongues. ### Where is Hummingbird Hawk-Moth usually found? Gardens and fields ### How does Hummingbird Hawk-Moth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Coker Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coker-arboretum) — North Carolina, US · Zoo - [Flamingo Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flamingo-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Scoville Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/scoville-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Tom S. Cooperrider-Kent Bog State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tom-s-cooperrider-kent-bog-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Botanical Gardens at Asheville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-gardens-at-asheville) — North Carolina, US · Botanical Garden - [Brierfield Furnace](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brierfield-furnace) — Alabama, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Hummingbird Hawk-Moth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hummingbird-hawk-moth) ## 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: [Hummingbird Hawk-Moth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hummingbird-hawk-moth)