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Nature

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth

What is hummingbird hawk-moth?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Scientific name Macroglossum stellatarum[1]
Family Sphingidae[1]
Type Hawk moth[1]
Activity Day-flying[2]
Range Temperate regions of Eurasia[1]
UK status Summer visitor from Southern Europe[2]

The hummingbird hawk-moth is a day-flying hawk moth, *Macroglossum stellatarum*, known for its hummingbird-like hovering and long proboscis used to feed on nectar.

Context

The hummingbird hawk-moth is a species of hawk-moth named for its hummingbird-like hovering and nectar feeding with a long proboscis [1]. It is a day-flying moth found across temperate regions of Eurasia, and it is a summer visitor to the UK from Southern Europe [1][2]. It hovers in front of flowers while feeding on nectar, using its long proboscis to extract nectar from tube-shaped flowers [2][1]. Its wingbeats produce an audible hum [2]. The name refers to its similarity to hummingbirds, not a bird relationship [1].

Documented claims

  • It hovers in front of flowers while feeding on nectar. [2]
  • It uses a long proboscis to extract nectar from tube-shaped flowers. [1]
  • Its wingbeats produce an audible hum. [2]
  • It is named for its similarity to hummingbirds, not a bird relationship. [1]

Related

MothHummingbird hawk-moth är en art inom gruppen moth, och läsaren kan vilja veta mer om moth som helhet.

Questions and answers

Are hummingbird hawk-moths rare in the UK?

They are summer visitors to the UK from Southern Europe, so they are not resident but can be seen during the summer months [2].

Are there hawk moths in Canada?

The sources do not specify their presence in Canada, but they are found in temperate regions of Eurasia [1].

Are there hummingbird hawk-moths in the US?

The sources do not mention their presence in the US, but they are found in temperate regions of Eurasia [1].

Sources

  1. Hawk moth | Nocturnal Insects, Migration Patterns & Adaptations | Britannica — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris spp.) — fs.usda.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature