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The Kitchen Table

Hummingbird moth's special visit today

schoolhouse_gwagain

4 years ago

I tried to post this to a previous thread on hummingbird moths from Aug. 22nd. My message disappeared! So I'm typing it all over again and starting a new thread.

Today I was sitting in the orchard near what I call a wild honeysuckle bush. There was a branch reaching out to the side and slightly above me. Suddenly a hummingbird moth came and lit on a leaf, tucked its abdomen underneath the leaf, then flew off. I never saw this before. Then it dawned on me, perhaps it was laying eggs.

So I find the leaf and turn it over. Squinting my eyes, I find a tiny, white, shiny egg! I wish I had had my camera, tomorrow I will see if I can find the leaf and take a photo.

Is the hummingbird moth's life cycle like a butterfly? Does the larvae overwinter in the cocoon? It seems late in the season to hatch, grow, and turn into a moth. I guess I should do some research. Anyway, the whole thing was special to me, to be in the right place at the right time to witness this.

Featured Answer

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

4 years ago

Sphinx moth larvae pupate in leathery looking capsules under the leaf litter or in the soil. There they slowly evolve from a hornworm of some sort to one of the numerous beautiful moths that belong in the Sphingidae family, often referred to as hawk moths, hummingbird moths, or sphinx moths.

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Comments (10)

roy4me
4 years ago
That is so special!

Thanks for sharing,
User
4 years ago

That's exciting! This was taken last Summer in my garden. It was nice to sit and watch......
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User
4 years ago
Cool! that's what I love too about sitting outside, you never know what you will see.
bragu_DSM 5
4 years ago
that's a sphinx moth ... so fun. they love 4 o'clocks
schoolhouse_gwagain
Original Author
4 years ago
I looked today but could not find the egg, and I'm pretty sure I found the same leaf. Perhaps another insect made a meal of it or it fell to the ground. Except the larvae would hatch out on the leaf and munch on it don't you think?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
There are numerous critters that will eat insect eggs, including ladybugs and other caterpillars. A very small percentage of eggs will make it all the way to adulthood, sadly.

To answer your question, the eggs are adhered pretty tightly to the leaf and are not likely to fall off.

When the tiny caterpillars hatch, they often feed on the remains of their eggs before starting on the foliage of their host plant. The larva will eat and grow, eat and grow some more until it reaches its full size.....and then drop to the ground to pupate.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
schoolhouse_gwagain
Original Author
4 years ago
Alas, I could find no egg this morning. :(
Iris S (SC, Zone 7b)
4 years ago
I have some of the caterpillars on honeysuckle right now. They are really hard to find during the daytime. It’s fun to go out after dark with an UV light. All kinds of caterpillars glow with that.
schoolhouse_gwagain
Original Author
4 years ago
Wow! I'll have to keep an eye on the honeysuckle bush. Maybe I'll spot a caterpillar.

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