Large flying insect - what was it?

Culli65 · #1 (**permalink**) 26-07-2010, 11:14 AM

I've just seen a strange large flying insect in my garden in Sussex. Body about 2 inches long and up to 1/2 inch thick, grey or light brown. Two pairs of wings attached towards the tail end were vibrating or whirring so fast they were just a blur and the total wingspan was 2 inches or more. It was sort of hopping from flower to flower, touching each one then going to the next (evidently not finding anything worth settling on?). It then rose up and flew over our 6ft high fence, so there was no time to go and get a camera.
Ideas please as to what it was. I've never seen anything like this before.

GuyF · #2 (**permalink**) 26-07-2010, 01:35 PM

Hi and welcome to the site,
This sounds a lot like a Hummingbird Hawk-moth. It's a migrant species and there seems to have been a bit of an influx of them recently.
Guy

jezlee · #3 (**permalink**) 26-07-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyF

Hi and welcome to the site,
This sounds a lot like a Hummingbird Hawk-moth. It's a migrant species and there seems to have been a bit of an influx of them recently.
Guy

It certainly sound like one to me, too. I've only ever seen one in my life, and that was the briefest of glimpses before, like yours, it was up and over the fence ... and never came back ...

Culli65 · #4 (**permalink**) 27-07-2010, 11:06 AM

Thankyou for the name! Now having now looked at photos of them on several websites and reading the descriptions, I HAVE seen one before - several years ago and was fascinated by the long proboscis. But I am a bit puzzled as this one seemed to have wings further back on the body. I'll be watching watch out for it coming back - or another!