Wednesday 26 September 2007

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

OTHER NAMES: Humming-bird Hawk-moth
Latin Etymology: Macroglossum ("big tongue") stellatarum (?)
Adult Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) at Geddington, Northants - June 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 50-58mm
UK Status: Not Yet Evaluated IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Hummingbird Hawk-moth has an incredibly apt name - it's hovering method of feeding, long feeding proboscis and flight stance are all uncannily reminiscent of hummingbirds, which are absent from the Old World.  It is distributed across Eurasia and North Africa, as it's entire way of life is specialised to take advantage of them, they mostly prefer flowers with lots of nectar and with long and narrow shapes allowing them to avoid competition with other insects.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Macroglossum
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM A widespread resident species which is seen in Summer
 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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