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Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 07:30:53 +0000 (UTC), Essjay001
wrote: Malcolm wrote: Hornets have black and yellow striped bodies, not "tan". They're just like wasps on steroids, but without the aggression! No not a Hornet What I'm not clear about is whether Essjay has looked at the picture of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, because what he is describing fits that fairly well. Yes I did but it's not that either, but I am inclined to think it might be a moth of some kind That does seem the most likely. There are loads of moths of all shapes and sizes, day and night flyers. A lot of which are tan or dun coloured. Tim. |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
"Essjay001" wrote in message ... Tim wrote: Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or ants do? Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably wasn't a stinger. Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had one land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I put it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason I mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet. Shan |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 21:28:51 +0100, shannie wrote:
"Essjay001" wrote in message ... Tim wrote: Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or ants do? Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably wasn't a stinger. Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had one land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I put it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason I mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet. Shan They're such stupid and useless flyers you can catch them in mid-air with your bare hands. Nice beetles though. They buzz like hornets too. Hornets don't crash into a house because they didn't notice it though. :) Tim. |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
I checked the BBC Wildlife mag this morning and it definately was the
Macroglossum stellatarum. Haven't seen it since. Geoff Are you sure it was a hummingbird hawk moth? They are usually day fliers AFAIK. There are lots of other hawkmoths that are night fliers. There is an excellent guide to hawmoths of the UK in this months BBC Wildlife mag. Anita |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Malcolm wrote: Depending a little where he lives, watching a hummingbird hawk moth outside after watching Gardener's World, i.e. just after 9.00 p.m., does not necessarily mean that it was night-time. It was after all on the longest day of the year! -- Malcolm True! I just read the "went out last night" bit and thought he DID mean night! I have no idea what time GW is on, I don't have a telly. But I suppose I should have worked it out is wasn't likely to be a late show! Anita |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Yes it was still light.
From the photos I could find on the internet it looked like it was. I will check the magazine just to make sure. It was just such an unusual sight to see that brain just would not function, not that it does at the best of times. All I can remember now is the mottled rump it had. No chance of seeing what the wings where like at all, except they looked hummingbird like if that's any good :-) It remains daylight until after 9pm here in Norfolk. GeoffH On Mon, 23 Jun 2003 11:32:59 +0100, "A.Malhotra" wrote: Are you sure it was a hummingbird hawk moth? They are usually day fliers AFAIK. There are lots of other hawkmoths that are night fliers. There is an excellent guide to hawmoths of the UK in this months BBC Wildlife mag. Anita |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Tim wrote:
Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or ants do? Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably wasn't a stinger. A hornet? There are some short stumpy-bodied dragonflies (can't think of any names at the moment). Hornets have black and yellow striped bodies, not "tan". They're just like wasps on steroids, but without the aggression! Hornets (Vespa crabro) have orange/brown eyes and hairs [http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/hornets.htm], whereas the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) have black hair and eyes. [http://www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder....lgaris/vespula _vulgaris.htm] If you see a black and yellow thing that's as big as a hornet it's probably a queen wasp. What I'm not clear about is whether Essjay has looked at the picture of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, because what he is describing fits that fairly well. |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 07:30:53 +0000 (UTC), Essjay001
wrote: Malcolm wrote: Hornets have black and yellow striped bodies, not "tan". They're just like wasps on steroids, but without the aggression! No not a Hornet What I'm not clear about is whether Essjay has looked at the picture of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, because what he is describing fits that fairly well. Yes I did but it's not that either, but I am inclined to think it might be a moth of some kind That does seem the most likely. There are loads of moths of all shapes and sizes, day and night flyers. A lot of which are tan or dun coloured. Tim. |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
"Essjay001" wrote in message ... Tim wrote: Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or ants do? Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably wasn't a stinger. Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had one land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I put it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason I mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet. Shan |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 21:28:51 +0100, shannie wrote:
"Essjay001" wrote in message ... Tim wrote: Short wings, long wings (in comparison to body-length)? Wholly or partly transparent, or solid wings, with or without markings? All things difficult to remember or even notice at a fleeting glance, I know. Did the legs hang down while it was flying? Did you notice the antennae. Did it seem to have a waist at all, like a wasps, bees or ants do? Sorry, but I didn't see the wings (moving too fast) or remember legs and things was more concerned that I hadn't seen one before and it looked big enough to give a painful sting. Having said that in hindsight it probably wasn't a stinger. Essjay, have you seen a cockchafer beetle in flight and landing?, we had one land on the pea netting one evening about a week ago, it was enormous! I put it in a jar ready to take a pic and ask here, but found it in one of my books, I'd seen it in the book but had no idea it was so big. The reason I mention it is because initially I thought it was a hornet. Shan They're such stupid and useless flyers you can catch them in mid-air with your bare hands. Nice beetles though. They buzz like hornets too. Hornets don't crash into a house because they didn't notice it though. :) Tim. |
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
I checked the BBC Wildlife mag this morning and it definately was the
Macroglossum stellatarum. Haven't seen it since. Geoff Are you sure it was a hummingbird hawk moth? They are usually day fliers AFAIK. There are lots of other hawkmoths that are night fliers. There is an excellent guide to hawmoths of the UK in this months BBC Wildlife mag. Anita |
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