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Hummingbirds? or Hummingbird Moths?
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Posted by iowa50126 z5IA (My Page) on Sun, Sep 12, 04 at 20:59
| Last summer I thought I saw hummingbirds visitng the impatiens near my deck. This year I've got more flowers in pots on the deck and in beds nearby.
I even put a HB feeder in the flower bed. But it's still full of red juice. I've only seen wasps feeding.
I see HB like creatures visit the plants around dusk. But they have antennae and JDLR. (just don't look right)
Are these Hummingbird Moths? Or, do I need new bifocals?
I had 4 of these "silent flyers" flitting around tonight.
Did I waste some money on that HB feeder?
Pete in central Iowa |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Hummingbirds? or Hummingbird Moths?
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- Posted by paul_f zone 5 Iowa (My Page) on
Sun, Sep 12, 04 at 23:19
| This is the time of the year for the past three years we have seen the hummingbird moths here in Oskaloosa. When I inquired on the internet I discovered they are native to the southwest of here in more arid climates. I guess the droughts have increased their range into Iowa. (Or they are coming along with the cougars and bobcats.) The only real hummers we have seen were here early in the Summer, and none recently. |
sphynx moth
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- Posted by paul_f zone 5 Iowa (My Page) on
Sun, Sep 12, 04 at 23:54
| Looked again at the USGS website and discovered the Sphynx Moth is more common than I thought. The site indicated they are the moth from the hornworm caterpiller as in tomato hornworm, but I have never had a problem with the hornworm in my tomatoes. Guess I'll have to keep an eye out. |
RE: Hummingbirds? or Hummingbird Moths?
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| We've had those moths here for years and we enjoy watching them. They're not as friendly as the hummers but never have caused any problems. The hummingbirds are usually here in spring when the flowering crabs bloom, then they're gone and return at hosta blooming time. I had to leave the feeders out for them for a couple weeks and one would stop a couple times and move on, but now they've really started frequenting them heavily. Like you, I also had just wasps and butterflies sitting on them. Now the syrup goes down visibly every day. They must be hungry little devils too because they're even trying to get nectar out of the little clear bulbs on the lights on the bushes around my deck and they buzz around my head checking me out. This is the first time I've had enough of them around me that aren't shy and they sit in the branches of my curly willow and chirp, and they sit long enough I can get a good look at them and see some of them are browner in color, and some have bright metallic green backs. Friendly little things. |
RE: Hummingbirds? or Hummingbird Moths?
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| Hi Pete...I've had sphinx moths at my impatiens for the past three years here in central IA. Seems like I get them later in the summer more often that not. I haven't seen them at any of my other flowers, but apparently they are attracted to impatiens. |
RE: Hummingbirds? or Hummingbird Moths?
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| i've had them on my petunias too. i've seen lots more hummers this year than ever before i've got a red suncatcher on my living room window that they come and check out. i sure love those little guys |
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