Hummingbird Hawk-moth

The Hawk Moths are very interesting, and although they usually fly in the evenings, you will sometimes see them during the day. These large, heavy-bodied moths fly very rapidly, and have mastered an unusual side-to-side sort of hovering. If you just catch a glance of one, you might assume it’s a hummingbird, because it has that sort of rapid wingbeat and hovering motion. They are almost as big as hummingbirds, too! That big body and rapid flight means the hawk moths require lots of energy and are thus drawn to flowers with big, showy blossoms full of nectar. The nectar is often hidden deep within the flower and cannot be obtained without a long, specially adapted tongue. One species of hawk moth has a tongue 18 inches long!
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