Hummingbird Moths

[kcflhrc]

You guys ever seen these things? I usually see one at a time or so but not often. However, our new to us house has a big Mimosa tree out front which is all bloomed out. We have anywhere from 10 to 15 of these Hummingbird Moths all over the tree every night. They are really cool. The last 2 or 3 nights with the Super Moon they have stayed out past dark feeding in the moonlight.

 

[oosik]

I have never seen anything like that - closest we have are hummingbirds. Those are beautiful. Occasionally I see a big moth but they are always brown.

 

[peterc38]

I hope you don't have any tomato plants

 

[kcflhrc]

I hope you don't have any tomato plants

We have a few tomato plants and have found a few worms on them. They are hard to spot.

 

[Mendonsy]

I hope you don't have any tomato plants

I don't think a hummingbird moth will bother tomatoes. We have lots of both and have never had a problem.
The tomato hornworm moth looks similar but it's a different critter.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I've seen them from time to time, but didn't know what they were called.

 

[AchingBack]

I get them every year when my evening primrose begin blooming in late June. Evening primrose is well worth planting.

 

[peterc38]

I don't think a hummingbird moth will bother tomatoes. We have lots of both and have never had a problem.
The tomato hornworm moth looks similar but it's a different critter.

Count yourself lucky then. I'm no insect expert but most online sources I have seen indicate tomato hornworms are the larvae of sphinx or hawk moths also known as hummingbird moths.

This source for one: Tomato/Tobacco Hornworms

I have seen those moths on my property every summer and every summer I have had tomato hornworms.

Coincidence? I think not.

 

[charlz]

Nectar moth is what I have always known them as. We get one occasionally here where we live now. In Vegas we had a bumper crop of them for a couple years. In-laws had some low ground cover type bushes next to the pool which the catepillars for this moth just loved. So many fell in the pool they would fill the strainer basket. The cat loved them, he would catch a moth, have it in his mouth and then hang outside the door to be let in. If it was dark and you didn't see what he had he would come in and then let it go in the house... guess he knew it couldn't get away in the house. The catepillers ate my pepper plants down to sticks in just a few days.

 

[ruffdog]

Cool looking but can cause much damage.

Hummingbird moth