Fun Hummingbird Hawk-moth Facts For Kids
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Hummingbird hawk-moths (Macroglossum stellatarum) are a migrant species of moths from the Macroglossum genus. They are known for their similarity with hummingbirds, which is scientifically termed as convergent evolution, where two distinctive species from different classes develop similar features.
They are spread throughout the Old World countries and migrate to their winter site in Southern Europe and North Africa. Like hummingbirds, they display the hovering flight method, flapping their wings at a rapid rhythmic movement. A hummingbird hawk-moth can flap its wings 80 times in a second.
Hummingbird hawk-moths are recognized by their greyish-brown forewings and orangish-brown hindwings, which help them in their flight, and proboscis, which they utilize while collecting nectar from flowers gardens. The caterpillars feed on flowers such as madder, Centranthus, and the adults on honeysuckle, petunia, and more.
These caterpillars turn into adults in about three weeks. These caterpillars hide in leaf litter and proceed to turn into pupae and eventually an adult.
To learn more, we have collected a set of interesting information about this fascinating insect. You can also learn about more insects by reading more articles on the imperial moth and gypsy moth.
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a hummingbird hawk-moth?
A hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a medium to large-sized moth from the Macroglossum genus of the Sphingidae family. They received their common name due to their similarities with the hummingbirds.
What class of animal does a hummingbird hawk-moth belong to?
This distinctive species of hawk moths belong to the Lepidoptera order of the class, Insecta of the Animalia kingdom. Apart from moths, butterflies and skippers belong to the Lepidoptera order.
How many hummingbird hawk-moths are there in the world?
Hummingbird hawk-moth range is vastly distributed throughout the Old World countries. In addition to that, they are tiny creatures who migrate every year. Therefore, the exact strength of their population is unknown.
Where does a hummingbird hawk-moth live?
Hummingbird hawk-moths are mostly seen in Old World countries such as Portugal and Japan. Apart from that, they are found in the Indian subcontinent, the United Kingdom, and other Mediterranean countries. In the United States, they live in the states of Utah, Texas, and California.
They are migratory species who fly to their winter site in North African countries, and to Southern Europe, in search of a warmer climate.
What is a hummingbird hawk-moth's habitat?
Hummingbird hawk-moth habitat is an interesting place to observe for all bird and insect enthusiasts as well as people fascinated by nature's workings. They live in the grasslands, farmlands, meadows, woodlands, and coastal areas. Once in a while, they are spotted in backyards and gardens blessed with nectar-rich flowers.
Who does hummingbird hawk-moth live with?
In general, most moths are solitary insects. However, due to lack of research, the same about the hummingbird hawk-moths are yet unknown.
How long does a hummingbird hawk-moth live?
The hummingbird hawk-moth life cycle includes three stages, larvae, pupae, and adulthood. According to entomologists, after evolving into an adult, they live for approximately seven months.
How do they reproduce?
This migrant species of hawk moths require a warmer climate to breed. Their breeding season begins in late spring or early summer, blessed with the required warm temperature they need. Females can lay up to 200 eggs per clutch.
A fascinating fact about the hummingbird hawk-moths is that they lay each egg on a particular plant despite producing such a great number of eggs. They lay eggs on bedstraw plants, such as lady's bedstraw and hedge bedstraw. Depending on the climate's temperature, it takes around 1-2 weeks for the hummingbird hawk-moth larvae to hatch out of their eggs.
What is their conservation status?
Hummingbird hawk-moths are Not Listed in the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Fun Facts
What do hummingbird hawk-moths look like?
Hummingbird hawk-moths are identified by their gorgeous orangish-brown hindwings and greyish brown forewings on their greyish-colored body. A hummingbird hawk-moth larva is born yellow, and with growing age, it procures its natural green coloration and two gray lines on both sides of its body.
How cute are they?
An average person may say hummingbird hawk-moths' appearance results from a weird fusion between a hummingbird and a regular moth. However, the very same fact makes them adorable and cute. Moreover, it is an undeniable fact that these migrant insects shine bright with their uniqueness!
How do they communicate?
Very little is known about the communication system between hummingbird hawk-moths. However, apart from aural and vocal methods, it has already been proven that members of the Sphingidae family can communicate by exchanging signals through pheromones. Though, entomologists admit that this subject requires a lot more research.
How big is a hummingbird hawk-moth?
Hummingbird hawk-moths are medium to large-sized moths with a wingspan of 1.6-1.8 in (4-4.6 cm). They are miniatures in front of an Atlas moth, which has a wingspan of up to 10.6 in (27 cm).
How fast can hummingbird hawk-moths fly?
Hummingbird hawk-moths display the hovering flight method by flapping their wings rapidly, similar to the bird they are named after. The flapping wings creates a rhythmic hum. However, the exact speed at which they fly is yet unknown.
How much does a hummingbird hawk-moth weigh?
In general, hawk moths weigh around 0.003-0.2 oz (0.1-7 g). However, the exact weight of hummingbird hawk-moths is yet unknown.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There aren't any particular sex-specific names given to their species.
What would you call a baby hummingbird hawk-moth?
Baby hummingbird hawk-moths are called 'larvae.' Their life cycle is divided into three stages, larva, pupa, and adult unlike some moths like the puss moth or the American Dagger moth that skip transforming into a pupa and directly turn into adults from being larvae.
What do they eat?
Hummingbird hawk-moths feed on the nectar of flower plants using their proboscis. The adults prefer lavender, Jasminum, Buddleia, Primula, Syringa, and more. The larval food plants include Stellaria, lady's bedstraw, and hedge bedstraw. The caterpillars feed on more variety of flowers from madder, Centranthus, Rubiaceae, and Epilobium plants.
Are they dangerous?
They are not dangerous at all. However, they have their eternal quarrel with gardeners and florists, as sometimes their presence is undesirable in a beautiful flower garden.
Would they make a good pet?
Hummingbird hawk-moths are delicate insects, and on top of that, they are migrants as well. Therefore, it is suggested for the welfare of these insects not to keep them as pets.
Did you know...
Many people fail to differentiate between snowberry clearwing hummingbird moths and hummingbird hawk-moths. The clearwing hummingbird moth belongs to the Hemaris genus and the latter to the Macroglossum genus.
The Hummingbird hawk-moth bite is a myth, as these creatures are harmless.
Members of the Sphingidae family share a close resemblance with the Egyptian Sphinx.
How do hummingbird hawk-moths affect humans?
Hummingbird hawk-moths were symbolized as a sign of victory and established as a lucky omen by the British soldiers during World War II. After few soldiers spotted these moths on D-Day, this belief took place and tasted victory later on.
How to attract hummingbird hawk-moths?
Enthusiasts attract hummingbird hawk-moths using nectar-rich plants such as red valerian, honeysuckle, petunia, escallonia, and lilac.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these rosy maple moth facts and plume moth facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable hawk moth coloring pages.
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