Nature Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Moth · **3 Likes**

Feeding on Daffodils. On a neighborhood walk, we found this Hummingbird Moth feeding on Daffodils growing on the roadside. Several views. Shutter speeds were 1/500 and 1/800. Edit: Based on comments from knowledgeable forum members, these images are of the "Sphinx Moth".

gatorguy · 04-22-2022, 03:44 PM

One of the first exciting photos I took after rediscovering Pentax cameras and my love of photography was of a hummingbird moth. 60 years old and I had never seen one before carrying my new K50 out on a hike I would never have taken until then.

Thanks for posting this!

**jbinpg** · 04-22-2022, 05:08 PM

Nice shots, Mike. But this one is one of the sphinx moths. All "hummingbird" clearwing moths lack scales on the wings which gives them their name. Otherwise they look similar. - Jack

**MikeNArk** · 04-22-2022, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by gatorguy

One of the first exciting photos I took after rediscovering Pentax cameras and my love of photography was of a hummingbird moth. 60 years old and I had never seen one before carrying my new K50 out on a hike I would never have taken until then.

Thanks for posting this!

Thanks for your comment. Glad that the images evoked that memory. Forum member, jbinph, has advised me that this is a Sphinx moth. I know that is correct, because I now member looking it up in the past.

gatorguy · 04-22-2022, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by jbinpg

Nice shots, Mike. But this one is one of the sphinx moths. All "hummingbird" clearwing moths lack scales on the wings which gives them their name. Otherwise they look similar. - Jack

Oh, and right you are! I guess I was mistaking the identity too. The one I shot a few years ago had clear wings so it was a Hummingbird Moth. I never noted the distinction.

Now that you've pointed it out I'm fairly sure it was the Sphinx (are there variants?) that would divebomb my younger son if he got too close when they were feeding at daybreak. Sometimes a half dozen at one time on the bush near the front door just as the sun was beginning to rise. Sound right?

**MikeNArk** · 04-22-2022, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by jbinpg

Nice shots, Mike. But this one is one of the sphinx moths. All "hummingbird" clearwing moths lack scales on the wings which gives them their name. Otherwise they look similar. - Jack

Thanks for viewing, commenting and correctly identifying this moth. I remember that I had looked this up in the past as soon as I read your comment. Imagine that, I forgot.😁 I do take photos of the clear winged hummingbird moth at the nature preserve each summer. I guess that I don't see the Sphinx moth as often.

**rhanz** · 04-22-2022, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by MikeNArk

Feeding on Daffodils. On a neighborhood walk, we found this Hummingbird Moth feeding on Daffodils growing on the roadside. Several views. Shutter speeds were 1/500 and 1/800. Edit: Based on comments from knowledgeable forum members, these images are of the "Sphinx Moth".

Great shots nice colors also very sharp.keep them coming.

**eaglem** · 04-22-2022, 06:21 PM

A very good series of Macro shots of an insect I haven't seen before.

**MikeNArk** · 04-22-2022, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by rhanz

Great shots nice colors also very sharp.keep them coming.

Thanks for your kind comments. I'll keep shooting and see what I get. I've been enjoying the photos from your trip. Keep them coming also.

**angkymac** · 04-22-2022, 07:29 PM

Really excellent shots of nature in action.
Love the interaction between the amazing-looking moth and the very pretty flower.
(For another identity question: Are those daffodils, or jonquils? I've had corrections quite few times, but can't recall which is which.)
Angky.

**MikeNArk** · 04-22-2022, 07:54 PM

Originally posted by angkymac

Really excellent shots of nature in action.
Love the interaction between the amazing-looking moth and the very pretty flower.
(For another identity question: Are those daffodils, or jonquils? I've had corrections quite few times, but can't recall which is which.)
Angky.

Thank you very much. To be honest, I've always thought the flowers were the same. I just read that the jonquil is a specific type of daffodil ( Narcissus jonquilla). I make plenty of errors in my posts and flowers, flower parts and spelling errors all rank highly.😁

**Tonytee** · 04-23-2022, 12:49 AM - **1 Like**

Beautifully constructed wildlife series. I always enjoy viewing Mid-Air Refueling. Very nice work and many thanks for sharing.

Tony

**MikeNArk** · 04-23-2022, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by Tonytee

Beautifully constructed wildlife series. I always enjoy viewing Mid-Air Refueling. Very nice work and many thanks for sharing.

Tony

Thank you much Tony. Mid-Air refueling is an apt description.

**phx.david** · 04-23-2022, 10:50 AM

I really like these. Great shots. If they're anything like hummingbirds, not easy to catch.

**MikeNArk** · 04-23-2022, 08:22 PM

Originally posted by phx.david

I really like these. Great shots. If they're anything like hummingbirds, not easy to catch.

Thank you. They move around a lot from flower to flower but are not near as skittish as hummingbirds.

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04-22-2022, 03:44 PM	#2
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,094	One of the first exciting photos I took after rediscovering Pentax cameras and my love of photography was of a hummingbird moth. 60 years old and I had never seen one before carrying my new K50 out on a hike I would never have taken until then. Thanks for posting this!

04-22-2022, 05:08 PM	#3
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Nice shots, Mike. But this one is one of the sphinx moths. All "hummingbird" clearwing moths lack scales on the wings which gives them their name. Otherwise they look similar. - Jack

04-22-2022, 05:31 PM	#4
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,239 Original Poster	Originally posted by gatorguy One of the first exciting photos I took after rediscovering Pentax cameras and my love of photography was of a hummingbird moth. 60 years old and I had never seen one before carrying my new K50 out on a hike I would never have taken until then. Thanks for posting this! Thanks for your comment. Glad that the images evoked that memory. Forum member, jbinph, has advised me that this is a Sphinx moth. I know that is correct, because I now member looking it up in the past.

04-22-2022, 05:40 PM	#5
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,094	Originally posted by jbinpg Nice shots, Mike. But this one is one of the sphinx moths. All "hummingbird" clearwing moths lack scales on the wings which gives them their name. Otherwise they look similar. - Jack Oh, and right you are! I guess I was mistaking the identity too. The one I shot a few years ago had clear wings so it was a Hummingbird Moth. I never noted the distinction. Now that you've pointed it out I'm fairly sure it was the Sphinx (are there variants?) that would divebomb my younger son if he got too close when they were feeding at daybreak. Sometimes a half dozen at one time on the bush near the front door just as the sun was beginning to rise. Sound right?

04-22-2022, 06:13 PM	#7
rhanz Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,984	Originally posted by MikeNArk Feeding on Daffodils. On a neighborhood walk, we found this Hummingbird Moth feeding on Daffodils growing on the roadside. Several views. Shutter speeds were 1/500 and 1/800. Edit: Based on comments from knowledgeable forum members, these images are of the "Sphinx Moth". Great shots nice colors also very sharp.keep them coming.

04-22-2022, 06:21 PM	#8
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,160	A very good series of Macro shots of an insect I haven't seen before.

04-22-2022, 06:26 PM	#9
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,239 Original Poster	Originally posted by rhanz Great shots nice colors also very sharp.keep them coming. Thanks for your kind comments. I'll keep shooting and see what I get. I've been enjoying the photos from your trip. Keep them coming also.

04-22-2022, 07:29 PM	#10
angkymac Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 9,032	Really excellent shots of nature in action. Love the interaction between the amazing-looking moth and the very pretty flower. (For another identity question: Are those daffodils, or jonquils? I've had corrections quite few times, but can't recall which is which.) Angky.

04-22-2022, 07:54 PM	#11
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,239 Original Poster	Originally posted by angkymac Really excellent shots of nature in action. Love the interaction between the amazing-looking moth and the very pretty flower. (For another identity question: Are those daffodils, or jonquils? I've had corrections quite few times, but can't recall which is which.) Angky. Thank you very much. To be honest, I've always thought the flowers were the same. I just read that the jonquil is a specific type of daffodil ( Narcissus jonquilla). I make plenty of errors in my posts and flowers, flower parts and spelling errors all rank highly.😁

04-23-2022, 12:49 AM - 1 Like	#12
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,530	Beautifully constructed wildlife series. I always enjoy viewing Mid-Air Refueling. Very nice work and many thanks for sharing. Tony

04-23-2022, 06:06 AM	#13
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,239 Original Poster	Originally posted by Tonytee Beautifully constructed wildlife series. I always enjoy viewing Mid-Air Refueling. Very nice work and many thanks for sharing. Tony Thank you much Tony. Mid-Air refueling is an apt description.

04-23-2022, 10:50 AM	#14
phx.david Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 1,619	I really like these. Great shots. If they're anything like hummingbirds, not easy to catch.

04-23-2022, 08:22 PM	#15
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,239 Original Poster	Originally posted by phx.david I really like these. Great shots. If they're anything like hummingbirds, not easy to catch. Thank you. They move around a lot from flower to flower but are not near as skittish as hummingbirds.