Yes, there is a moth that strikingly resembles a hummingbird. This biological imitation often leads to mistaken identities in gardens and natural settings.
The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a moth that resembles a hummingbird. It has a thick, robust body, with a wingspan of 1.6 to 1.8 inches (40-45 mm). Its forewings are brownish-grey with darker, wavy lines, and its hindwings are bright orange. Its body is covered in brownish-grey hairs, and it has a fan-tail of hairs at the end of its abdomen.
Its flight patterns are hummingbird-like; it hovers, flapping its wings rapidly at up to 85 beats per second, generating a humming sound. It uses a long proboscis, around 1.0 to 1.1 inches (25-28 mm), to feed on nectar from tube-shaped flowers while hovering. This proboscis coils under its head when not in use. The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth is active during the day, especially in bright sunshine, which further contributes to its bird-like appearance as it darts swiftly between flowers. These moths are commonly found across temperate regions of Eurasia, including southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, frequently visiting gardens, parks, and meadows.
Distinguishing Moths from Hummingbirds
Several key differences distinguish a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth from a hummingbird. Moths have antennae, which hummingbirds lack. The moth has short, clubbed antennae. Moths have six legs, while birds have two.
The moth has a fuzzy, hairy body, while a hummingbird is covered in feathers. While both hover and produce a humming sound, the sound from the moth’s wings is often described as a softer buzzing compared to the more distinct whirring of a hummingbird. The moth uses a long, coiled proboscis for feeding, unlike the hummingbird’s straight beak. Hummingbirds are larger, 3 to 4 inches long, compared to the moth’s 1.5 to 2.5 inches.
Why the Resemblance
The resemblance between the Hummingbird Hawk-Moth and hummingbirds is attributed to convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures. Both organisms have evolved the ability to hover and feed on nectar from deep, tubular flowers, leading to similar body shapes and flight behaviors. This shared feeding niche has driven the development of features like a long proboscis and high-frequency wingbeats in both.
The mimicry also offers a defensive advantage against predators. This is a form of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species mimics a harmful or unpalatable one to deter predators. Insectivorous birds, a common predator of moths, might avoid the Hummingbird Hawk-Moth, mistaking it for a hummingbird. Hummingbirds are known for their speed and agility, making them difficult prey, and predators might learn to associate their appearance and behavior with a challenging pursuit, thus extending this avoidance to the mimicking moth.
Other Moths That Mimic Hummingbirds
While the Hummingbird Hawk-Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is the most widely recognized, it is not the only moth species that exhibits hummingbird-like characteristics. Other members of the Sphingidae family, commonly known as sphinx moths or hawk-moths, also display similar behaviors and appearances. The genus Hemaris, often referred to as clearwing moths or hummingbird moths in North America, provides prominent examples.
Species such as the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) and the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) are known for their ability to hover and feed on nectar during the day, much like hummingbirds. These moths often have clear patches on their wings, contributing to their unique appearance. Another example is the White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata), which also shares some hummingbird-like traits in its flight and feeding. This broader mimicry within the hawk-moth family demonstrates a recurring evolutionary strategy for survival.