Hummingbird Moth – Insect or Bird Newsletter<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Subscribe](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.6565.img.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/a> ![\"Newsletter](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.6566.img.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/font><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n![\"content_img.8671.img.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.8671.img.jpg\")
Newsletter<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\nHummingbird Moth – Insect or Bird?<\/span><\/font><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"content_img.10660.img.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.10660.img.jpg\")
Photo by D. Compton<\/font><\/em><\/p>\nAn interesting recent question:<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nQ: <\/span>I had a very strange bug (?) visiting my yard. It looks like a cross between a moth and a hummingbird. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\nAnd another:<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nQ: <\/span>I have a Meyers lemon tree full of blooms and this little guy went flying by my head, not shy at all, having a ball. Saw a picture someone sent in on Facebook to you. Can you give me information on this little bird? Never saw one before now and what a treat for me to see.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n![\"content_img.10661.img.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.10661.img.jpg\")
Photo by M. Ridgeway<\/font><\/strong><\/em><\/font><\/p>\nIt’s actually a very pretty moth.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nHummingbird Moth or Clearwing Moth<\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/p>\nHemaris thysbe <\/font><\/em><\/font><\/p>\nDescription:<\/b> Beautiful moths that look like hummingbirds. <\/span>Wingspan 1 1\/2-2″ (38-50 mm). Wings initially plum-red to brownish black, but scales drop off after 1st flight, leaving clear areas devoid of scales, except along veins. The body is spindle-shaped, mostly olive-green with plum-red bands across abdomen and rear tufts. Caterpillar is yellowish green with darker green lines and reddish-brown spots on abdomen and with yellow tail horn. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\nLife Cycle:<\/strong> Caterpillar feeds on foliage of plants of the honeysuckle family and others.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nFlight: <\/strong>April <\/span>– September.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nHabitat: <\/strong>Forest edges, meadows, and cultivated flower gardens.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nRange: <\/strong>Coast to coast in the North; also east of the Great Plains south to the Gulf.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nDiscussion:<\/strong> This moth hovers over flowers in full sunlight, producing a buzz with its wings similar to but softer than that of a hummingbird similarly engaged. There are two generations a year.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\nLife History:<\/strong> Adults fly during the day, and hover at flowers to sip nectar. Caterpillars pupate in cocoons spun at the soil surface.<\/p>\nFlight:<\/strong> Two broods in the south from March – June and August – October, one brood in the north from April – August.<\/p>\nCaterpillar hosts:<\/strong> Honeysuckle (Lonicera<\/em>), snowberry (Symphoricarpos<\/em>), hawthorns (Crataegus<\/em>), cherries and plums (Prunus<\/em>), and European cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus<\/em>).<\/p>\nAdult food:<\/strong> Nectar from a wide variety of plants including Japanese honeysuckle, beebalm, red clover, lilac, phlox, snowberry, cranberry, blueberry, vetch, and thistles.<\/p>\nHabitat:<\/strong> Open and second-growth habitats, gardens, and suburbs.<\/p>\nRange:<\/strong> Alaska and the Northwest Territories south through British Columbia to Oregon; east through the Great Plains and the Great Lakes area to Maine and Newfoundland; south to Florida and Texas.<\/p>\nHere’s an excellent site for more information on this wonderful insect.<\/font>
http:\/\/www.silkmoths.bizland.com\/hthysbe.htm<\/font><\/span><\/a><\/font><\/p>\nIf you have any questions on this newsletter or any other topic, tune in Sunday 8 am – 11 am (CST) to the <\/font>Dirt Doctor Radio Show<\/font><\/a>. Listen on the internet or find a station in your area. The phone number for the show is1-866-444-3478<\/font><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\nPlease share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and all of your friends on Facebook and Twitter to help me spread the word on organics.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\nNaturally yours,<\/font>
![\"content_img.7396.img.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.7396.img.jpg\")
<\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
Howard Garrett <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\n![\"content_img.9759.img.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/content_img.9759.img.jpg\")
<\/span><\/u><\/span><\/font><\/p>\nMembership supports <\/span><\/b>TORC.<\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/u><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\n
<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/font><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\nHummingbird Moth – Insect or Bird?<\/span><\/font><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n An interesting recent question:<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Q: <\/span>I had a very strange bug (?) visiting my yard. It looks like a cross between a moth and a hummingbird. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n And another:<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Q: <\/span>I have a Meyers lemon tree full of blooms and this little guy went flying by my head, not shy at all, having a ball. Saw a picture someone sent in on Facebook to you. Can you give me information on this little bird? Never saw one before now and what a treat for me to see.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n It’s actually a very pretty moth.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Hummingbird Moth or Clearwing Moth<\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n Hemaris thysbe <\/font><\/em><\/font><\/p>\n Description:<\/b> Beautiful moths that look like hummingbirds. <\/span>Wingspan 1 1\/2-2″ (38-50 mm). Wings initially plum-red to brownish black, but scales drop off after 1st flight, leaving clear areas devoid of scales, except along veins. The body is spindle-shaped, mostly olive-green with plum-red bands across abdomen and rear tufts. Caterpillar is yellowish green with darker green lines and reddish-brown spots on abdomen and with yellow tail horn. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Life Cycle:<\/strong> Caterpillar feeds on foliage of plants of the honeysuckle family and others.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Flight: <\/strong>April <\/span>– September.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Habitat: <\/strong>Forest edges, meadows, and cultivated flower gardens.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Range: <\/strong>Coast to coast in the North; also east of the Great Plains south to the Gulf.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Discussion:<\/strong> This moth hovers over flowers in full sunlight, producing a buzz with its wings similar to but softer than that of a hummingbird similarly engaged. There are two generations a year.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n Life History:<\/strong> Adults fly during the day, and hover at flowers to sip nectar. Caterpillars pupate in cocoons spun at the soil surface.<\/p>\n Flight:<\/strong> Two broods in the south from March – June and August – October, one brood in the north from April – August.<\/p>\n Caterpillar hosts:<\/strong> Honeysuckle (Lonicera<\/em>), snowberry (Symphoricarpos<\/em>), hawthorns (Crataegus<\/em>), cherries and plums (Prunus<\/em>), and European cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus<\/em>).<\/p>\n Adult food:<\/strong> Nectar from a wide variety of plants including Japanese honeysuckle, beebalm, red clover, lilac, phlox, snowberry, cranberry, blueberry, vetch, and thistles.<\/p>\n Habitat:<\/strong> Open and second-growth habitats, gardens, and suburbs.<\/p>\n Range:<\/strong> Alaska and the Northwest Territories south through British Columbia to Oregon; east through the Great Plains and the Great Lakes area to Maine and Newfoundland; south to Florida and Texas.<\/p>\n Here’s an excellent site for more information on this wonderful insect.<\/font> If you have any questions on this newsletter or any other topic, tune in Sunday 8 am – 11 am (CST) to the <\/font>Dirt Doctor Radio Show<\/font><\/a>. Listen on the internet or find a station in your area. The phone number for the show is1-866-444-3478<\/font><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n Please share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and all of your friends on Facebook and Twitter to help me spread the word on organics.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n Naturally yours,<\/font> Membership supports <\/span><\/b>TORC.<\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/u><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
Newsletter<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n
Photo by D. Compton<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n
Photo by M. Ridgeway<\/font><\/strong><\/em><\/font><\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.silkmoths.bizland.com\/hthysbe.htm<\/font><\/span><\/a><\/font><\/p>\n<\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
Howard Garrett <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/u><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\n