(Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

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(Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis a...

byteseller
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p.1 #1 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

Hemaris diffinis

This is the North American variety, so probably not a true humming bird moth... but that is what I call them - is there a group name?

I've always wanted some of these in the garden, and I think our butterfly bush finally succeeded in attracting one!

Got a few shots of the little guy hovering from flower to flower... although they never land, as close as I could see they always clamp down with one or two legs to anchor themselves as they hover.

Question is.... what are the things on the close up on the moth's "tongue" (proboscis)? Anyone know?

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Larger version here

Close up:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jul 07, 2012 at 05:54 PM

denis55
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p.1 #2 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

no idea,but cool capture

Jul 07, 2012 at 08:52 PM

birdied
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p.1 #3 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

Very nice shot. I am not positive, but they look like they could be flower thrips.

Birdie

Jul 08, 2012 at 12:26 AM

michael kilner
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p.1 #4 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

nicely done

Jul 08, 2012 at 01:46 PM

Jonathan Huynh
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p.1 #5 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

Nice.

Jul 08, 2012 at 02:33 PM

byteseller
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p.1 #6 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

Birdied,

The outline looks about right for flower thrips... but wouldn't these be much larger. Can't imagine that the moths proboscis is much over 1/4 millimeter across, and the creatures on it over 1mm.

It'll make for an interesting math exercise, I'll ruler-it off in photoshop in one of the 1:1 shots and get a better estimate of large they are.

Thanks for the tip.

Jul 08, 2012 at 07:01 PM

DeniseD
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p.1 #7 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

This is a clearwing moth. Not sure which one exactly but I think it is a clearwing hawk moth. There are many varieties in North America.Not sure about microscopic ones on the tongue.

Jul 18, 2012 at 12:55 AM

e6filmuser
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p.1 #8 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

byteseller wrote:
The outline looks about right for flower thrips....
Correct.

Harold

Jul 20, 2012 at 10:50 AM

Jonathan Huynh
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p.1 #9 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

NIce.

Jul 21, 2012 at 05:39 AM

e6filmuser
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p.1 #10 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

e6filmuser wrote:
byteseller wrote:
The outline looks about right for flower thrips....
Correct.

On closer examination, they appear to be nymphs of the pre-wingbud stage. Thus, the fringed wings which are diagnostic of the adults are absent.

http://www.gladescropcare.com/lcpic.html

Harold

Jul 21, 2012 at 06:01 AM

LordV
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p.1 #11 · (Help) "Humming" bird moth - Hemaris diffinis and passengers?

Lovely capture- agree on them being thrips - accidently picked up when feeding
Brian v.

Jul 21, 2012 at 06:16 AM

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