Uncle Phil
21st October 2006, 11:52 AM
During the summer we were visited on several occasions by what looked like a large moth - during the day in really bright sunshine. It had pinkish wings which beat extremely fast, and its body was brown at the front but at the back it was black with white splodges. It was a really pretty little thing about an inch and a quarter long, and we were really intrigued because it hovered at the mouth of flowers like a hummingbird.
Well, now I've had time to settle down and check things out it turns out that the way I'd been describing it was spot on... It's a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
These normally stay south of Britain around Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa etc, but global warming has meant that it can survive very well in our conditions. Although we feel quite honoured that she should visit our tiny little patch in the middle of Reading, it does have a much deeper meaning for the environment.
Have a blimp here:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Macroglossum_stellatarum01.jpg
And a description here:
http://www.answers.com/topic/hummingbird-hawk-moth
Anyone else noticing things that they have never previously encountered?
Uncle Phil.
Well, now I've had time to settle down and check things out it turns out that the way I'd been describing it was spot on... It's a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
These normally stay south of Britain around Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa etc, but global warming has meant that it can survive very well in our conditions. Although we feel quite honoured that she should visit our tiny little patch in the middle of Reading, it does have a much deeper meaning for the environment.
Have a blimp here:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Macroglossum_stellatarum01.jpg
And a description here:
http://www.answers.com/topic/hummingbird-hawk-moth
Anyone else noticing things that they have never previously encountered?
Uncle Phil.