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Photo#467425
Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris

Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris
Port Orange, Volusia County, Florida, USA
October 24, 2010
Size: 3 to 4 inches
I saw three of these large hummingbird-like moths near dusk. They were feasting on the pollen from my Pentas flowers. At first I thought they were baby hummingbirds, their wings were beating like a hummingbird, but there was no noise that could be heard from the wing beats. They had a 3-4 inch wingspan and a slightly shorted body length. I haven't got a clue what they are, but they are large and very unusual. The wings looked somewhat moth-like, but the wing flap rate was very fast, faster than any moth I have seen before. Can anyone help me to identify this Insect?

Images of this individual: tag all
Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris Hummingbird-sized Moth? - Enyo lugubris

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

It looks like it might be a M
It looks like it might be a Mournful Sphinx, Enyo lugubris - Covell says they are common in Florida. Gorgeous! - Lula

 
Thank you for correctly ident
Thank you for correctly identifying the Sphinx moth variety as Enyo lugubris. You are right on! After comparing my pictures with the other pictures I found on-line, it appears to be a perfect match.

Hawk moth, family Sphingidae
This is a Hawk Moth or a Sphinx moth, family Sphingidae. I don't know what species but most species are crepuscular (out at dusk) or nocturnal. They are extremely energetic fliers and they are excellent pollinators for flowers with long nectar tubes. The diurnal species are often mistaken for hummingbirds. Excellent photos

 
Thank you so much for your he
Thank you so much for your help in identifying the sphinx moth as the family that the moth I spotted is included in.

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