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Garden Gate: what is buzzing around my garden? |
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danelle
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Danelle
Delafield
WI
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2005 : 6:54:33 PM
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I have a mystery creature buzzing around my hummingbird garden and I cannot find it in any book. It looks like a cross between a large bumble bee and a hummingbird. I have lots of hummingbirds but this is to small to be a bird. Any ideas? |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2005 : 10:55:32 PM
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Oh my gosh -- I've never heard of such a thing -- amazing. Thanks for the link.
"If you are lucky enough to have a garden, you are lucky enough!" |
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danelle
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Danelle
Delafield
WI
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2005 : 3:46:36 PM
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That's it! Thank you - what fun to come home from work and see this. Great link I put it in my favorites. |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2005 : 7:25:19 PM
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You're welcome. If you have more insect queries, I'm more than happy to answer them!
Cat |
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2005 : 10:45:00 AM
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Wow...I've never seen such a thing..Coooool~~I wonder if they are found in specific regions or all over?? Jan |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2005 : 4:28:44 PM
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Hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) Range: Alaska and the Northwest Territories south through British Columbia to Oregon; east through the Great Plains and the Great Lakes area to Maine and Newfoundland; south to Florida and Texas.
Cat
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Sep 16 2005 : 10:39:38 AM
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Thanks Cat~~ I think that leave me out~~ Jan |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2005 : 10:57:15 AM
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No, I don't think it does Jan. Aren't you bordering on the Great Lakes? Illinois touches Lake Michigan. That means you're in the Great Lakes area, right?
Besides, there are a few other moths that are considered hummingbird mothes. Only one that looks likes a bumblebee. If you don't see that one, there are others to be on the lookout for.
They are part of the hawk moth family, Sphingidae. I found this website on hawk moths of Illinois:
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/ILsphinx.htm
Cat |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2005 : 10:37:02 AM
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I dont know Cat~~ I am in Central Ill so not sure if they would come down that far.. However, I did have a huge moth that was yellow and black..The funny thing is I thought it was a yellow leaf stuck on my "pretend" wood daisy..It was there for several days so I was going to brush it off, and realized it was a moth...I wonder what kind that was? I have never seen it before~~ Jan |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2005 : 9:32:29 PM
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Jan: You're not giving me a lot to work with here... hm. Yellow and black? Any patterning? Spots? Strips? Different patterns on the front vs hind wing? How big? Was it really a moth? Compared to butterflies, most moths are fairly small.
This is a far shot, but could it be an male Io moth? http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/usa/957.htm
Cat |
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2005 : 07:54:57 AM
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Cat-I wish I could send a pic of it...It wasnt the Io moth..It was a goldish yellow with horizontal blackish brown/rust stripes on its body..and rust-ish large spot on its wings-not a perfect circle tho...I will have to refresh my memory -my DH took a picture so maybe I can figure out how to send it..It was definately a moth tho-Approx 4 in or so accross and was just sitting there on the yellow part of my wooden daisy~~ Is there a way to do a search with such little information? Jan |
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2005 : 08:06:48 AM
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I "Asked Jeeves" and the closest I found is the Eacles-(or is it Eades )Imperialis...I will have to check my picture again..Would it be possible that is what it was? Jan |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2005 : 6:06:47 PM
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Wow Cat- I just looked at the web site~~It must be an Eacles Imperialis...! Thanks~~ What do you know about them?? I have never seen one before~~ It sure was big for a moth!! Jan |
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CityCat
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Catherine
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
198 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2005 : 8:57:52 PM
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Well, I really don't know anything about moths. Truth be told, I don't like moths all that much. I like them better than butterflies, but that's about it. I like flowerflies the best. I began my insect studies in a fly lab, so I'm a bit biased. At least I didn't study small dung flies!
I took a look at your photo (very nice by the way!) and I'd have to concur on it being a Eacles imperialis, the Imperial moth. For more info on this particular moth, go to this website: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/usa/974.htm
I'm currently working as an aquatic invertebrate taxonomist. I'm getting to know my water insects and such. I kinda miss my flies though... (yeah, I'm such a geek!)
Cat |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2005 : 9:06:57 PM
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Sorry, but......ick!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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theherblady
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Jan
Glasford
Illinois
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2005 : 07:38:50 AM
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Wow Cat~~What a large title for such a little species...Best wishes...and Thanks for the input~~ Jan |
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Garden Gate: what is buzzing around my garden? |
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