Mysterious flying bee like thing!!!

mandy48 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 03:59 PM

Could someone help me identify an insect I have just seen in my garden. It was drinking from my Verbena with a probosis like a butterfly but it was about the size of a large bumblebee but seemed to be flatter. I was very close to it so got quite a good look. It looked like it had a fluffy bottom like a bumblebee but was definitely black & white patches. It had the same type of wings as a bee, but was hovering above the plant to drink. Reminded me of a hummingbird stance. The front of it was I believe quite a light colour. Definitely was not a bee, was much squarer in the body. Sorry, this is the best description I can come up with. I live in Norfolk by the way, I know this sounds weird, but it sort of looked mediterranean! Any help would be much appreciated as I really am intrigued.

mandy48 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 04:13 PM

Actually. have been reading a load of previous posts and have now discovered (from photos) that it was a Hummingbird hawkmoth. Are these unusual?

2dogs2000 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 06:46 PM

I would love to see one in my garden. The only time I have ever seen one was at a garden centre.

jpscloud · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011, 12:03 PM

Brilliant Mandy! I've only ever seen one in my garden, about five years ago, on buddleia. I think they rarely get as far north as I am.

JRsbugs · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011, 12:34 PM

I got pics of one two days ago, I had seen it a couple of days before that but it didn't hang around. Next time it had a good feed on Phlox Nicki, they like purple!

I saw it visit the same flowers last year but it disappered too quickly, in fact I have seen it most years for a few years now.

jpscloud, your location isn't much different regarding north/south than I am, but I am more east and as they will be coming from mainland Europe they probably hit here first. Get some purple Phlox, or other purple flowers but I had seen one feeding on white Hebe in the hot 2006.