The problem with Hummingbird Hawkmoths is that they don't sit still for photos.
The hummingbird hawk-moth migrates to the UK from Southern Europe each year. It can be seen hovering over flowers, feeding with its long proboscis; its wings move so quickly that it 'hums'.
This is only the third time in all my years of having a garden that I've seen one. It was on the Valerian which is one of those plants that just arrives and spreads.
Red valerian was introduced in the 1600s from Europe, but is now naturalised in the UK. Its pinky-red flowers grow from old walls, roadside verges, railway cuttings and cliffs, and provide nectar for insects.
Hooray for patches of garden where anything is left to grow and to being in the right place at the right moment to spot this intriguing creature.
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I remember the first time I saw one it was on the flowers of soapwort or Saponaria it is very exciting and as you say impossible to photo.
ReplyDeleteI don't have Valerian in my garden but had one here last week by some of my Hardy Geraniums. Almost impossible to photograph! I didn't know they came here from Southern Europe, or indeed that Valerian was introduced quite late. I thought it was a native.
ReplyDeleteI’d be thrilled to get that last photo . We had a hawk moth a few days ago on the honeysuckle, perhaps our fourth in 50 years here ? Lovely things . As for Valerian , I’ve planted clumps from friends a few times with no success. Our sandy soil should be ok but some plants just do their own thing it seems .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
Those are amazing photographs, thank you for posting them. I shall be on the lookout for that astonishing little moth
ReplyDeleteOne visited our self-seeded Valerian a few days ago. Once it had finished it banked and shot off over the top of the garage at a real rate of knots. I think you did really well to get photos of yours.
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