Hummingbird moth

Hi everyone I've just had a hummingbird moth in the garden, I've never seen one before and I must say i didn't know what it was at first it looked surreal to be honest then i thought moth and something in the back if my mind said hummingbird moth, it was one of the most fascinating things watch. Attached is an awful photo, I only had my phone available and had it on full zoom.

 

Brilliant, @mazambo! That's good news for me mate, if you get them in your area then I have a chance of attracting them to my garden here in Notts. I have a couple of plants in my garden that they're supposed to be keen on but have never had one visit it. What plant(s) did it seem to be attracted to in yours?

Nick

 

Yes, have a few in my gardens also.

 

It was on an agastache "red fortune"

 

Thanks @mazambo, my wildlife book says they feed at Centranthus ruber, Lavandula, Verbena bonariensis and fuschias. I have the Verbena and also a Lonicera which they are supposed to like but no joy so far. My book also says that "They set up feeding rounds, returning to the same plant every hour or so over several days". So keep your eyes peeled, you may get another visit soon!

Nick

 

I see lots of images posted online of them feeding on Red Valerian flowers.

Another plant is (hardy) Plumbago

 

I had one today on a Salvia involuctra.

 

As well as perennial Salvias and Valerian I saw lots of them last week in France on Ivy leaf Geraniums and Gaura.

 

We get dozens, especially on the terrace. Have spent quite a lot of time this summer rescuing them from Araujia sericofera..the Cruel plant. It's well named....the moth pokes it's proboscis into the flower which closes tightly on it. The moth is held prisoner for some hours, to ensure pollination. In theory it's released later, but by then, the poor moth is exhausted anyway! Oenothera does the same thing. Two plants that have got to go!
OH mistook a violet carpenter bee for a moth and found out the hard way that they do sting, when he tried to release it

 

That's just awful, poor things! But which Oenothera is it, speciosa?

Nick

 

Nice to have them. I usually see a few every year in my garden. They never stay long and are usually seen in the afternoons.

 

Yes, speciosa, the low-growing pink one. Getting rid of it will be fun...it's horribly invasive.
You could add Heliotrope to your list of preferred flowers :-)

 

Thanks @noisette47! So glad I didn't buy some of those now, I think it was J Parker's who had them going really cheap a few years ago and I was tempted because the fragrance sounded lovely!

Nick

 

It's a very pretty flower, and superb ground cover if you have a couple of acres to lose But it's irresponsible of nurseries and Companies to sell it without mentioning it's drawbacks. The only consolation is that bees (except carpenter bees) seem to escape it's clutches.

 

I’d never heard of it. Here is an article.

Araujia sericifera - Wikipedia