Species Macroglossum stellatarum - Hummingbird Hawk-moth - Hodges#7883

Classification · Hodges Number · Explanation of Names · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · See Also · Internet References

Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) - Macroglossum stellatarum

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)

Family Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)

Subfamily Macroglossinae

Tribe Macroglossini

Genus Macroglossum

Species stellatarum (Hummingbird Hawk-moth - Hodges#7883)

Hodges Number

7883

Explanation of Names

Macroglossum stellatarum Linnaeus, 1758

Latin Macroglossum, "macro" (large) and "glossa" (tongue) in reference to the long tongue. Latin stellatus, "starry" (in reference to abdomen markings).

Identification

Adult: overall dark brownish-grey. Opaque gray forewings and strong orange hindwings unmistakable under reasonable viewing conditions. Abdomen with distal third dark, with three white markings along each margin. "Tail" tufted, black, and fan-shaped.

Range

Across Europe, Africa and Asia. One record from Alaska in the mid 1900s.

Habitat

Open areas with plentiful nectar sources (open grasslands, meadows, gardens, farmland, etc.). Adults frequently found feeding on nectar of butterfly bush (Buddleia) and other prolific flowers.

Food

Adults feed on nectar. Larvae feed primarily on bedstraw species (Galium), but will utilize other members of Rubiaceae.

Remarks

A rare vagrant to North America, with only a handful of purported records. A highly migratory species that, with the right supporting conditions, could turn up anywhere in the world.

Edit 9/5/2019: Although it is possible that this species could stray to northeastern North America, MPG and Pohl et al. will continue to list this as extralimital until there is reasonable evidence that it is established. West coast records are most likely stowaways. - Steve Nanz

See Also

Nessus Sphinx (Amphion floridensis) much darker overall, and abdomen with transverse pale stripes.

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) forewings translucent, pattern dissimilar.

Internet References

UK Moths

Contributed by James Bailey on 16 June, 2017 - 10:33pm
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz, Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 5 September, 2019 - 2:15pm

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