Hummingbird hawk-moth - Macroglossum stellatarum - Family: Sphingidae

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Hummingbird hawk-moth - Macroglossum stellatarum
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature

This unusual moth has smooth bluish-green caterpillars. These are seen from July to August. They have black striped markings and a 'horn'. The dark brown adults fly from June to September or later and have bright orange hind wings. They really do closely resemble a hummingbird in flight and when hovering at a flower.

Unlike most hawk-moths, this is largely a day-flying species and is usually seen visiting flowers in sunshine. It seems especially attracted to petunias and valerian as well as buddleia and will also visit nicotiana or tobacco plants. The hummingbird hawk-moth migrates from Europe in the summer. In some years it does not get much further than the south coast where it can be quite common but sometimes it spreads out all over the country and produces a second generation later in the year. The caterpillars feed on different species of bedstraw. This is a widely distributed species but one which rarely manages to survive the winter in Britain.

Food

Bedstraws, especially lady's bedstraw (Galium verum) and hedge bedstraw.

Plants

Common jasmine, Cosmos, Hedge bedstraw, Petunia, Purple toadflax, Red valerian