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'Humming Bird' Moth...Friend or Foe?

figtreeundrgrnd

17 years ago

Hi. I recently saw this curious creature for the first time. Hovered like a humming bird, had a fanned tail...sort of lobster-like. I Googled it and found photos that matched what I saw.

I can't find any info on these insects...are they harmful?

Thanks for any leads.

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Comments (7)

Day_By_Day
17 years ago
What are the google pic links that you matched?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
There are many moths that are collectively called hummingbird moths; it's almost a 'brand name'. They are all members of Sphingidae family, called Sphinx Moths for short. Caterpillars are typically called hornworms.

If we had an image of the moth that you saw, we could help with the ID of the caterpillar. However, though caterpillars are vegetation eaters, few hornworms cause enough problems to merit any control. Having an accurate ID of the insect (which KIND of sphinx moth) could point you in the direction of the food source of the caterpillar. They tend to be somewhat host specific, according to species.

The adults are extremely interesting little animals, well worth letting the caterpillars have their feast, just to have the moths visit our gardens of an evening.

Does that answer your question, or did you have something more specific in mind?
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figtreeundrgrnd
Original Author
17 years ago
This one was closest to the first Google image. It had brown/tan stripes. Very interesting critter...I can't find the name for which sphinx moth this was but I'm glad it stopped by. I think!>)
bizzarbazzar
17 years ago
I think they are beautiful and interesting moths. your plants (possibly tomato, or other nightshade plants depending on the moth) the cats may host on, but I actually let them...I love to watch them.
larry_gene
17 years ago
The correct answer was: friend.
figtreeundrgrnd
Original Author
17 years ago
Ah, the tomatoes and foxglove...thankfully I haven't noticed any damage to them. I'm surprised I haven't seen one before. I spotted it around 8am...it seemed to like the petunia growing nearby.
Are they common to north central NJ?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
I'm going post the images of the 'real' hummingbird moth (Snowberry Clearwing) that was posted in the Perennial Forum recently. It is easy to see how this insect, in particular, can be mistaken for a hummingbird.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here! Take a look at these great images!

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