Hummingbird Hawk Moth seen in Rochdale

Hummingbird Hawk Moth seen in Rochdale

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As a native of North Africa, the Hummingbird Hawk Moth has travelled a long way to arrive in Castleton, Rochdale.

They are known to migrate to the southern parts of Europe during the months of May and June, but sightings of the moth on the evening of Sunday 21 July, suggest our warmer temperatures may be tempting them further afield.

The origin of its name is as suggestive as it sounds. Its hovering behaviour, the speed of its beating wings and audible hum resemble such similarities to the hummingbird.

These moths are usually easy to spot in gardens especially around nectar-rich flowers. Its long proboscis or mouthpiece enables it to feed on tubular plants such as petunias, honeysuckle and gallium. They are reported to have a good memory with some moths returning to the same place every day at the same time.

Unlike most native moths of Britain, the Hummingbird Hawk Moth has a distinctive appearance. Their forewings are brown with darker lines across them. The hindwings are orange with a black edge. Its broad abdomen is dotted with white patches on the side and a fan tail at the end.

As the warm days linger on, could we be seeing more of the Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Keep your eyes open for more sightings. Let us know if you see one.