Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hummingbird Hawk moth

Hummingbird Hawk moth (macroglossum stellatarum)

The hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a species of Sphingidae. Its long proboscis and its hovering behaviour, accompanied by an audible humming noise, make it look remarkably like a hummingbird while feeding on flowers. It should not be confused with the moths called hummingbird moths in North America, genusHemaris, members of the same family and with similar appearance and behavior. The resemblance to hummingbirds is an example of convergent evolution. It flies during the day, especially in bright sunshine, but also at dusk,^[1] dawn, and even in the rain, which is unusual for even diurnal hawkmoths.^[2] Its visual abilities have been much studied, and it has been shown to have a relatively good ability to learn colours.^[3]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird_hawk-moth

External links:
Macroglossum stellatarum , European butterflies and moths Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macroglossum stellatarum."Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa : Macroglossum stellatarum" . Retrieved 2011-10-21.Pittaway, A.R. (1997–2011). "Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic : GENUS Macroglossum, Scopoli, 1777" . Retrieved 2011-10-21.