Sphinx Moth
Sphinx Moth
The white-lined sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. Also colloquially known as hawk moths they are sometimes known as the hummingbird moth because of their bird-like size (2-3 inch wingspan) and flight patterns.
Some hawk moths, such as the hummingbird hawk-moth or the white-lined sphinx, hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, so are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. This hovering capability is only known to have evolved four times in nectar feeders: in hummingbirds, certain bats, hoverflies, and these sphingids[3] (an example of convergent evolution). Sphingids have been much studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called "swing-hovering" or "side-slipping". This is thought to have evolved to deal with ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers. [Wikipedia]
Sphinx Moth
Sphinx Moth
The white-lined sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. Also colloquially known as hawk moths they are sometimes known as the hummingbird moth because of their bird-like size (2-3 inch wingspan) and flight patterns.
Some hawk moths, such as the hummingbird hawk-moth or the white-lined sphinx, hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, so are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. This hovering capability is only known to have evolved four times in nectar feeders: in hummingbirds, certain bats, hoverflies, and these sphingids[3] (an example of convergent evolution). Sphingids have been much studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called "swing-hovering" or "side-slipping". This is thought to have evolved to deal with ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers. [Wikipedia]