Unknown insect - hummingbird like

[PaulCole]

We have spotted an insect feeding from our buddleia and wondered if anyone could help identify it? As yet I have been unable to take a photograph of it but here is a brief description:

• The insect hovers at the buddleia like a humming bird
• The insect is about 30mm long
• It has a furry lower body that is reddish brown with white markings
• It appears to have two antenna about 20mm long on top of its head
• Its wings were beating too fast to determine any distinguishing features

Any ideas?

Regards

Paul

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by PaulCole

We have spotted an insect feeding from our buddleia and wondered if anyone could help identify it? As yet I have been unable to take a photograph of it but here is a brief description:

• The insect hovers at the buddleia like a humming bird
• The insect is about 30mm long
• It has a furry lower body that is reddish brown with white markings
• It appears to have two antenna about 20mm long on top of its head
• Its wings were beating too fast to determine any distinguishing features

Any ideas?

Regards

Paul

Hi Paul,

Welcome to WAB. Its a Hummingbird hawk-moth

like this one I took a pic of


Take care
Best wishes
Kris

[PaulCole]

Wow, thank you for the fast reply. Cheers.

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by PaulCole

Wow, thank you for the fast reply. Cheers.

Your very welcome Paul
Have a good night.

[Looking]

Great photo Bushcraft,
There was one in the garden here yesterday. I got some shots but not as good.
Dave

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by Looking

Great photo Bushcraft,
There was one in the garden here yesterday. I got some shots but not as good.
Dave

Thanks Dave, I was lucky enough to get a lot of shots of him, I have more in the Gallery. They have to be one of the most fascinating little chaps, very fast and yet so precise. It seems there are a lot about this year as everyone is seeing them, I hope the other Hawk-moths start to appear too

Take care
Kris

[ctabuk]

Thank you so much, we had one in our Lincolnshire garden at the weekend. Cheers David

[rosie]

hi me and my mum was out walking in a place called freshwater east pembrokeshire in wales and we saw about 3 on a buddleia and we thought it was a humming bird but wasnt shore so we checked on google and it came up with your address thanks 4 the help!!!

[NikSu]

Indeed WOW.

We had a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in our garden last night for the first time and were so amazed that this evening have done an internet search to find out more about this. Found this great site which gave us the answer, along with those brilliant photos.

We're living in Bournemouth at the moment and wonder how far afield these have been spotted in the UK.

[wildone]

Originally Posted by NikSu

Indeed WOW.
We're living in Bournemouth at the moment and wonder how far afield these have been spotted in the UK.

Apparently has been reported on Shetland this year.