Clearwing moths have fooled many people into thinking they’ve spotted a hummingbird. Unlike many moth species, these little impersonators are active during the day.
Hummingbird Clearwing moths hover like hummingbirds. And they beat their wings fast which also makes them annoyingly-difficult to photograph!
I spotted several Hummingbird Clearwing moths in our yard this summer sipping nectar from the swamp milkweed flowers and annuals like this dianthus:
These pollinators are able to reach deep into tubular flowers to sip nectar, so they serve an important role.
Some of their favorite flowers include bee balm, phlox, verbena and honeysuckle.
Hummingbird Clearwing moths overwinter in cocoons in leaf matter. For the last two years I’ve started finding creative places to keep leaf piles in my yard in the fall instead of letting the city haul them away.
Perhaps that’s why I saw more of these interesting little pollinators this year!