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Tennessee Gardening

Night Visitor

16 years ago

Spotted this little guy having his way with my brugs the other night. He would crawl way up in there. Too bad they don't have time to set pods before frost comes.

I have also seen them going at it with the daturas. Does anyone know if they are strictly a night flyer or do they also pollenate day blooming flowers?

White Lined Sphinx Moth

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Comments (7)

Amazindirt (7a TN)
16 years ago
Ooo, I love the shots showing his tongue! Great pics!
jim_6b
16 years ago
I haven't checked but I hope my triple yellow daturas are getting the same visitors. They were planted late so I may not get any seed pods.
Jim
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Pattie I love the sphinx moth pics. I ususaly can't get them to hold still long enough to get a pic. I was surprised I got the one to sit on my hand last week. I'll trade you all in the south a groundhog for a dillo. lol Sounds like they do the same kind of damage. Lynette I thought my butterfly gingers were really late this season because they are just getting buds so I was surprised to hear that yours are just budding up too. I hope mine have time to bloom before the first frost. Karyn
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Oh Sharon. Please do share specifically what this "wonderful, half century old lady gardener" used. I believe I might know a "wonderful, decade younger but feeling two decades older lady gardener" who would be interested in the details of what was purchased at HD. :-) Of course, I'm not sure it's safe to bring the rose back outside with the attack of the Japanese Beetles just beginning. :-( ~Michelle
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Thanks Kate and Gary. I've seen some up north & the thing I saw didn't look like some of the more common sphinx moths. However, I had no idea that there were so many species of sphinx moth. I and been looking at pictures of them until my eyes are crossing. Since there are so many of them, it's quite possible that I saw a sphinx moth. However, this flying thing was such a brilliant color, that I'm still hoping/thinking that it may have been a red-throated hummingbird with mixed up days & nights. Whatever I saw wasn't feeding, just flying in a somewhat confused manner. From my googling, the ruby-throated feeds in Florida will feed on 4 o'clocks. This flyer was very close to my many 4 o'clocks. The dogs were running around barking. Whatever it was, it seemed that they startled it. We have very bright lights in our little backyard, so I'm very sure that "my" flyer had iredescent blue/green on it. It's more fun to think that I spotted a confused hummingbird. I'll let you know if I see another.
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Comments (3)
Rasakili, Thank you so very much for the great info about their eyes. I had been so worried I might have done some damage ever since my husband brought it up. Confused, you say? LOL Then they'll fit right in with the rest of the fur and feathered babes in this family. Again, Thank you! Tracey, Thank you so much! I honestly didn't think I got anything in the picture but the feeder. My camera has a long delay and most times I get pics of visitorless (is that a word? ) feeders. When I transferred from camera to computer, this shot was a very nice surprise.
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TnShadyLady
16 years ago
I believe the Sphinx moths are strickly nocturnal. I did have a bunch of the clear winged moths this year that look a lot like the Sphinx moths when in flight. And the clear winged are out and about during the day.

Great photos!
tngreenthumb
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone.

I got some feedback on the Brugmansia forum and it turns out this is actually a Pink Spotted Hawk Moth.
fernzilla
16 years ago
I saw one of those Moth's the other day too. It was flying around in the daytime though. I am glad to know what it is.
bigorangevol
16 years ago
I get a crapload of those guys in my Datura every year. They will buzz by me in the evening when I'm on the patio having a smoke. Sometimes they scare the stew out of me 'cause it's like having a hummingbird dive-bomb you. THIRTY MILES PER HOUR!!! Check this out:

[Family: Sphingidae, Sphinx Moths
Description: 3 3/4 - 4 3/4". Forewings narrow; brown and gray pattern resembles bark; hindwings gray-brown with black and pink to orange bands, small pink patch at base. Body brown with pink bands; black bands on abdomen.
Range: Eastern Canada to southern South America.
Host plants: Jimsonweed, Sweet Potato, Pawpaw

Caterpillar sometimes a pest on Sweet Potato crops. Like other sphinx moths, this species flies well and fast (30mph or faster at times). It sometimes strays far from its home range and has even been seen 500 out in the Atlantic Ocean. Sphinx moths feed on tubular flowers and have a very long proboscis especially adapted to the task. The large caterpillars of sphinx moths have a long, pointed horn at the end of their body and are frequently called "hornworms."]
tngreenthumb
Original Author
16 years ago
What's really wild is to be walking along and shine your flashlight right in their eyes. Looks like a miniature hellhound staring back at ya.

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