Return of the Hummingbird Hawkmoth

[SueA]

I've just been out in the garden trying to catch some pics. of the Hummingbird Hawkmoth which has returned to my garden (didn't see it last year) & I got one of it looking straight at me! I saw it yesterday but didn't get a photo as it was dive-bombed by a tortoiseshell butterfly & flew away.

[bootie]

I have had one in my garden a few times, probing my begonia's. It's one of the good things of global warming!

[Bibliobeck]

Saw my first Hummingbird moth ever last year hovering around the lavender. I've also seen them on a couple of occassions this year - this time hanging around the tomato plants. As someone with a morbid fear, nay PHOBIA of moths () I couldn't believe how beautiful they are with their friendly, furry little faces - I didn't scream or anything! Don't know about how the moth reacted when it saw my face staring back though There's definitely something less threatening about a moth that's happy to show itself in the daylight!

[HappyMouffe]

I haven't seen a hummingbird hawkmoth, but we do have some Eyed Hawkmoth caterpillars in the garden, eating my new apple trees . I didn't want to move them though, as I've never seen them before & wanted to see the adults. The caterpillars are huge, with a little blue tail

[nick the grief]

Sounds er Interesting HM. Welcome to the vine by the way. I had a hawk moth caterpillar walkinto the greenhouse a couple of months back - about 4" long - I almost soiled myself at first as i was concentrating on somethingelse !

[burnie]

Been in my garden in scotland on and off for the last couple of months,seem to feed on any thing blue.

[bootie]

Yesterday I rescued a Hawkmoth Caterpillar from our cat. I have never seen one move so fast(caterpillar). I put it in my shrubbery for safety. That is the second I have seen in my garden in 3 years.

[Palustris]

Managed to get these a few weeks back.

[SueA]

Lovely shots Palustris, is that verbena that it's on? I took mine when the moth was on the buddleia which I had been waiting to open it's secondary flowers to attract the butterflies back. The pic. I've posted looks like a night shot as the flower was against a dark conifer & the auto flash went off, I was worried I might have blinded the poor little thing but it carried on regardless & I turned the flash off & carried on photographing it. They seem to have very large eyes unless it's some kind of optical illusion!

[Clairey]

Managed to get these a few weeks back.

Saw my 1st hummingbird moth this back in June, they love my Buddlehia, at the moment keep getting to of them feeding off it They seem to be giving the butterflies a run for their money!!

[HappyMouffe]

Here's a piccie of the eyed hawkmoth caterpillar I mentioned above - artfully shot by hubbie, with his sweaty gym T-shirt behind it

[bootie]

Here's a piccie of the eyed hawkmoth caterpillar I mentioned above - artfully shot by hubbie, with his sweaty gym T-shirt behind it

OOher that isnt the catty I seen, it was about 3 inches long, dark brown and two marks like eyes on one end Anybody any ideas

[Palustris]

Look here Bootie see if you can find it on this site
http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/

[bootie]

Thanks Palustris
It could be a elephant hawk moth that is the nearest I can find. But I dont think I have ever seen the moth . Weird as it is the second time I have seen the catty in the last few years

[rauni]

Couple of years ago an Elephant Hawkmoth flew into our kitchen and hung out for a while. First it tired itself out trying to escape, and it was impossible to help it without freaking it out, so we let it rest. It stayed on my partner's finger for long enough to sketch it a few times... didn't have a camera. It was the most beautiful creature. Silver grey velvet, and so big you could see every detail of his little muscles and feathery antenna. Magic. Also saw Convulvulus Hawkmoth same summer.