Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths
in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so, when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source? I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds after garden to email me) |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
"Sacha" wrote in message k... Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so, when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source? I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs. The caterpillars feed mainly on bedstraws (Galium spp) so that's where you would see them (caterpillars), about now, if there were any. I haven't seen any Hummingbird Hawk Moths yet this year. Perhaps the weather hasn't helped? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
"BAC" wrote in message ... "Sacha" wrote in message k... Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so, when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source? I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs. The caterpillars feed mainly on bedstraws (Galium spp) so that's where you would see them (caterpillars), about now, if there were any. I haven't seen any Hummingbird Hawk Moths yet this year. Perhaps the weather hasn't helped? It was not until a fine day last October that I saw one on the Winter Jasmine.I shall certainly be on the look out for any this year. Sue,Derby --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.657 / Virus Database: 422 - Release Date: 13/04/2004 |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:05:07 +0100, Sacha wrote:
Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so, when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source? I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs. You won't find the cocoons on plants, they pupate in the soil. The pupae are a chestnut brown and about an inch long. They don't make a cocoon afaik. -- Tim C. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
This site is interesting, esp. the comments towards the end.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfact...les/3063.shtml -- David Hill Abacus nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 13:23:36 +0100, David Hill wrote:
This site is interesting, esp. the comments towards the end. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfact...les/3063.shtml I wonder how many generations they have per year? -- Tim C. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On 20/7/04 12:49, in article ,
"Tim Challenger" wrote: On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:05:07 +0100, Sacha wrote: Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so, when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source? I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs. You won't find the cocoons on plants, they pupate in the soil. The pupae are a chestnut brown and about an inch long. They don't make a cocoon afaik. My faulty memory then. I could have sworn I'd seen a large cocoon hanging from a bush in Jersey several years ago and being told that's what it was. From memory (long ago) I'd say it was about 3" long, possibly more. -- Sacha (remove the weeds after garden to email me) |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On 20/7/04 13:23, in article , "David Hill"
wrote: This site is interesting, esp. the comments towards the end. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfact...les/3063.shtml Really fascinating site - thank you, David. -- Sacha (remove the weeds after garden to email me) |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 15:36:31 +0100, Sacha wrote:
On 20/7/04 12:49, in article , "Tim Challenger" wrote: On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:05:07 +0100, Sacha wrote: Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so, when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source? I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs. You won't find the cocoons on plants, they pupate in the soil. The pupae are a chestnut brown and about an inch long. They don't make a cocoon afaik. My faulty memory then. I could have sworn I'd seen a large cocoon hanging from a bush in Jersey several years ago and being told that's what it was. From memory (long ago) I'd say it was about 3" long, possibly more. Well, I've dug a couple up and let then hatch in a jam jar to see what they were...maybe they do both. I've done a bit of looking up and it seems we might both be right. They do pupate on the host plant or in debris on the ground. Maybe mine just thought it was too cold on the surface. :-) http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/m_ste.htm The colour is also variable, as mine were definitely darker brown than the photo shows. There is a really big moth that *is* as big as a humming-bird - not the humming-bird hawk moth. I've seen some in Austria and Switzerland, maybe they make it to Jersey as well, I wouldn't be surprised. Could it have been the cocoon of one of those? -- Tim C. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Elephant Hawk-Moth (caterpillar-nymph-moth) | Garden Photos | |||
Hawk Moth - hawk moth.JPG (1/1) | Garden Photos | |||
OT-ish Hummingbird Hawk Moth | United Kingdom | |||
Hummingbird Hawk Moth | United Kingdom | |||
Hummingbird hawk moth | United Kingdom |