#Pellucid hawk moth vs humming bird how to#

Hummingbird moths are small, with a wingspan of 2 to 3 inches, while hummingbirds have a wingspan of 4 to 6 inches. The easiest way to tell these two creatures apart is by their size. After all, if you’re out in nature and see something that looks like a hummingbird, you probably want to be sure before you start calling it one! Size

#Pellucid hawk moth vs humming bird how to#

Now that we know all about the similarities between these two creatures let’s talk about how to tell them apart. In the case of the Hummingbird moth and the hummingbird, their shared habitat and feeding habits have led to them evolving similar physical traits and behaviors. Convergent evolution happens when two unrelated species evolve similar traits because they live in similar environments and face similar challenges. The similarities between Hummingbird moths and hummingbirds are an example of convergent evolution. If you manage to put your hand close to a hummingbird or a Hummingbird moth while it’s flying, you can feel the vibration of its wings. The frequency of the humming noise is often too high for humans to hear, but we can feel it. The sound is generated by the rapid movement of their wings. Humming NoiseĪs you can probably guess, both creatures make a humming noise while flying. This gives them the lift they need to stay in one spot. It takes a lot of energy to fly like this, but it provides much more maneuverability than fixed-wing flight. To hover, they both beat their wings rapidly in a figure-eight pattern. Moths and hummingbirds can hover in midair while feeding on nectar, allowing them to drink without landing on the ground or perching on a branch. Hovering FlightĪnother similarity between these two creatures is their flying style. While feeding, they also help pollinate the host plants by transferring pollen from the stamen to the pistil.

They extend their long tongues deep into the tubular flower to get to the nectar. They are attracted to tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers like those in the mint family. Hummingbird moths and hummingbirds share the common trait of feeding on the nectar of flowers. Now that we know a little more, let’s compare them side by side. The thought of getting a species of moth and a bird confused sounds crazy, right? But these two creatures have a lot of really prominent features in common. The Similarities Between Hummingbird Moths and Hummingbirds You’re more likely to see them moving from flower to flower in forests or meadows rather than in your backyard, but they have been known to visit flower gardens for the nectar. They can be found anywhere from May to August and are most active during the day, unlike most moths. However, these moths are actually common in North America, east of the Rocky Mountains. You might think such an exotic creature as a Hummingbird moth must be rare. They range in size from 0.75 to 1.25 inches long with a 2 to 3-inch wingspan.

The front wings have dark spots near the base, and the hind wings have an orange-yellow band along the edge. These moth species are sometimes called “Hummingbird Clearwings” because their wings appear mostly transparent.

The genus Hemaris is collectively known in North America as Hummingbird moths, of which there are four defined native species. There are about 1,450 species found all over the world. The Hummingbird moth family is called sphinx moths or hawk moths. Let’s delve into both of these impressive creatures and how to tell them apart quickly. Obviously, a moth and a bird are in entirely different spheres of life, so how can they look and act so similar to the point of confusing nature observers? Even its wings moved like a hummingbird’s. It had the same general body shape and size as a hummingbird and hovered in midair like one. My eyes got blurry as I stared intently at the strange hovering creature who was not quite a bird and not quite a bug. The first time I saw a Hummingbird moth, I was absolutely convinced it was a hummingbird.