The Common Clearwing or Hummingbird Moth is very active now, searching the summer bloom for nectar. Monarda and Phlox are garden favorites, but I also see them in natural areas on a wide variety of species, including Knapweed and Joe-Pye-Weed.
Clearwing on Phlox
Clearwing on Phlox
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
Nick's Nature Pics 
Awesome snaps of these. Have never seen one.
Thanks Alison! I haven’t had time to do much with the camera so I’m shooting around the house in between chores. My batting average with these moths is dreadful, but every now and then even a blind squirrel finds an acorn. 🙂 We have an invasive shrub here – I call it Eurasian Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp) – which happens to be a preferred food of the Clearwing caterpillar.
The first time one of these buzzed me, I thought it was a hummingbird, but it didn’t seem quite right and it was dark. It spooked the heck out of me. 🙂
Fantastic shots!
Thanks Jo. I have a lot of fun with these little hummers. Fairly common and easy to capture…. but very difficult to get the Wow shot!!
Great shots! I once spent nearly an entire summer chasing the clearwings on my lunch break, camera in hand. None of my photos came out as well as yours. These moths are indeed a challenge, but so much fun. 🙂
Ha! I’ve been know to do the same thing, shooting on a break. Thanks jodi. The Contented Naturalist looks like a great site — will check it out when I get a chance.
Fantastic shots!
Thanks. I make a serious effort to compose Clearwing shots but must admit I wear out the delete tab in the process. 🙂