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growing & crawling: Hummingbird moths
from fpfaugust2021
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Humingbird Moths
It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a Hummingbird Moth! If you've ever seen a fast-moving, flier in your flower garden that almost looks like a hummingbird, you have probably seen the elusive Hummingbird Moth.
The Hummingbird Moth got it's name for good reason. Though it is in the Lepidoptera family, it's movements mimic that of a hummingbird and it's heavy body and fast wings increase that similarity. Hummingbird moths are rather plump; the tip of their tail opens into a fan. They are usually of a rich reddish brown color. Like most moths they have a very long tongue which they carry rolled under their chins and that they use to reach the nectar of long-necked flowers.
While there are several types of hummingbird moths, there are 4 native to North America. The adults are beneficial as pollinators and if you want a chance to glimpse one of these beauties in your yard, make sure you plant some of their favorite blooms such as phlox, bee balm, honeysuckle, and verbena.
Though the adults start feeding in spring when the bluebells are blooming, you are most likely to see them now, in the heat of mid-summer. The females lure the males in with pheromones to keep the species going. Eggs are laid on host plants and, once the caterpillars are fully grown, they drop to the ground and spin a loose cocoon where they use the protection of leaf litter to pupate.
By janet douberly
Janet Douberly is Program Coordinator at Downtown Greens. If you'd like to learn more about things growing and crawling in Fredericksburg, check out our Facebook & Instagram.
