Visitor to Wave Petunia's

The recent visitor to my hanging wave petunia baskets is worth mentioning.  "Hummingbird moths/ or Spinx Moths" are fun moths to watch which look very similar from a distance to our Ruby Throated Hummingbird. 

I saw someone buzz right by me, and was excited that my hummingbird visitor had finally gotten into position for a photograph.  Then I took a closer look and realized that it was actually the "hummingbird moth".  The family is: Sphingidae, and they feed much like hummingbirds, hovering in front of a flower sipping nectar through a proboscis.  I believe that the Sphingidae that visited my hanging baskets was Hemaris thysbe--a hummingbird clearwing moth--though some people will use that term to generally describe all Hummingbird Moths.

I realize that the pictures are a little rough with the angle of the sun, but look closely to see if you can find the Hummingbird Moth in these pictures. The top picture shows it drinking the nectar from the plant, and it is hovering at the top of the other photo.  

Are your kids as curious about the wonders of nature, and all the goings on as we are here at TLC??? There are a few spots left for our amazing new summer program: Free Time Adventures in Nature which is sponsored by Trail Creek Outfitters.