Hummingbird Hawk-Moth 🦋

The hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a small moth belonging to the Sphingidae family. It has a wingspan of 50 mm; the forewings are brownish-gray with black lines.
This moth, rather stout and robust, is often mistaken for a bumblebee 🐝 during flight. It feeds on the nectar of numerous flower species using its very long proboscis, which can reach 26 mm in length, much like a straw 🥤.
The caterpillars 🐛, which are a striking green color, have a characteristic blue posterior horn.
⁉️ Did you know? 😲
It is also called the “Hummingbird Moth” because its wings beat incredibly fast (90 beats per second! ⏱️), allowing it to hover in mid-air while sipping nectar from flowers. This way, it doesn’t have to compete with other insects, like bees or butterflies!
Photo Pixabay