Hummingbird Hawk-moth
Image: Gabriel von Max (Public domain)
Common NameHummingbird Hawk-moth
Scientific NameMacroglossum stellatarum
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)42.5
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, black
HabitatGardens, parks, meadows, coastal areas, open woodland
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, Asia (migratory)
Host Plantsbedstraws (Galium spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylehovering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are green with a white lateral stripe and a yellow horn at the rear, feeding on bedstraws. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon on the ground or in leaf litter.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its rapid, hovering flight, stout body, and the combination of brownish forewings and bright orange hindwings, often seen feeding from flowers during the day.
Description
A medium-sized hawk-moth with cryptic brownish-grey forewings, bright orange hindwings, and a stout, dark body with black and white markings. It is known for its rapid, hummingbird-like hovering flight.
