Wildlife June 2013

[johnw]

Who is this fellow?

johnw

[Graham Catlow]

Hi John,

I think it might be a (Sphinx Moths, Hawkmoths) Hummingbird Clearwing Hemaris thysbe

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Hemaris-thysbe

Graham

[johnw]

Thanks Graham.  I had an awful time trying to photograph him as he moved to another plant as I neared.  Then he got bored with me and stayed at this Dianthus and I was able to get within 6" from him.  Certainly was a beauty with those red markings.

john

[Anthony Darby]

In the UK the are called bee hawk moths. The wings are opaque until their first flight, then the scales covering the transparencies fall off.