What is this critter?
May 3, 2023 21:36:45 #
There were tons of them zipping around a bush in the front yard.
I’m guessing that someone here can identify it.
My apologies for the crappy pic but my daughter was holding it and trying to be still.
I’m guessing that someone here can identify it.
My apologies for the crappy pic but my daughter was holding it and trying to be still.
May 3, 2023 22:25:50 #
May 3, 2023 22:44:50 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
Obviously a moth but I have no idea which one
That's what I thought too but it's not nocturnal like many moths. Also, they don't look very moth-like when flying but that isn't really much of an indicator.
Be that as it may, thanks for the input. Someone will have an idea.
May 4, 2023 05:36:02 #
Just did a Google images search. Looks to me it's either a White-Lined Sphinx Moth or a Striped Hawk Moth. There are a few Hoggers that hang out in the Macro Section who are very good at insect IDs
May 4, 2023 09:27:22 #
May 4, 2023 10:16:41 #
Thank you guys, it looks like one of those and I don’t know why I missed the Mia obvious Google choice but at the end of the day I prefer human interaction anyway so thanks again!
May 4, 2023 12:13:22 #
Nice find. A handy way to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth is that a butterfly rests with its wings up and a moth rests with its wings down.
May 4, 2023 13:59:58 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
Nice find. A handy way to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth is that a butterfly rests with its wings up and a moth rests with its wings down.
This is another way to tell the difference between the two.
One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth is to look at the antennae. A butterfly's antennae are club-shaped with a long shaft and a bulb at the end. A moth's antennae are feathery or saw-edged.
will
May 4, 2023 18:17:37 #
gastech1949
Loc: Imperial Beach, CA.
Keep it away from your tomato plants, it's larvae is that big green worm that eats the leaves on the tomato vine.
May 4, 2023 18:53:00 #
The hawk moth (sometimes called a sphinx moth) has several different forms. My avatar is one such form. That one is also called a hummingbird moth because it flaps its wings at around 30/second like a hummingbird and hovers over flowers with a long proboscis which it uses to drink the nectar. That moth is one of several with clear wings. The larval form is generally called a hornworm because it has a pointed thing at the end opposite the head. And yes, it likes tomato plants. Usually eats the leaves will also feast on the fruit. The larval form can be controlled with BT (bacillus thuringensis), a stomach poison. It paralyzes the gut when ingested so the insect stops feeding and dies. BT is useful because it's specific to larvae of lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). Not harmful to people or bees or other beneficial insects.
May 4, 2023 19:29:54 #
DirtFarmer wrote:
The hawk moth (sometimes called a sphinx moth) has... (show quote)
This is an actual hummingbird moth.
May 4, 2023 19:47:09 #
Drbobcameraguy wrote:
This is an actual hummingbird moth.
Here are a couple more.
And they come in different colors
They come around the farm frequently since we plant around 1200 tomatoes.
May 4, 2023 22:13:18 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
Nice find. A handy way to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth is that a butterfly rests with its wings up and a moth rests with its wings down.
Thanks Will, I did not know this either.
May 4, 2023 22:21:14 #
Thank you guys, the pictures are terrific as well.
We have live here for 16 years and I just don't remember seeing this particular moth before. Either that or I'm going senile. I definite possibility.
We have live here for 16 years and I just don't remember seeing this particular moth before. Either that or I'm going senile. I definite possibility.
May 5, 2023 07:57:55 #
Mike D. wrote:
... I just don't remember seeing this particular moth before...
I was growing tomatoes for 20 years before I saw one of these. And it was pointed out to me by someone else. Once I was able to recognize it I spent the next 3 years taking about 800 shots, of which 5 turned out to be pretty good. They move unpredictably, but you can sometimes get pretty close to them (within 3 ft). When moving away from a flower they fly backwards frequently.
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