About Hummingbird Moths

Hummingbird moths reside in North America and are found most commonly in fields, gardens and flower beds. Large in size, these colorful moths are often confused with hummingbirds because of their wing movement and feeding methods.

Breeding

Female moths lay eggs on plants. Caterpillars hatch from the eggs and, when fully grown, form tightly woven cocoons where they eventually hatch into full-size moths.

Color

Hummingbird moths have red bands across their abdomen and are green in color. Their wings are clear although red variations may appear at the base of each wing.

Feeding

Hummingbird moths feed on nectar from flowers through a long needle-like mouth known as a proboscis. The proboscis extends from its coiled position to extend deep into the flower for food.

Size and Features

Hummingbird moths have feather-like hairs that extend from the abdomen. These colorful moths can grow from 2 to 4 inches in length.

Pollination

Hummingbird moths do pollinate a variety of plants and flowers, however, because of their small narrow mouth, pollination is not the main function of the species.

References

• Fairfax County Public Schools
• Cirrusimage.com: Hummingbird moth photos