At the end of October, I spotted an extraordinary visitor in my garden — the hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum). Its hovering flight, rapid wing beats, and delicate movements over flowers reminded me of the hummingbirds I often watched while living in California. But don’t confuse this insect with a hummingbird — the hawk-moth is a moth, not a bird. It’s charming yet very shy, so when you see one, hold your breath for a moment to keep it from flying away and enjoy the magic of its presence.
This encounter inspired me to open a new chapter of the Great Exhibition of Bees, where I invited artists to paint not only bees but also other pollinators — butterflies, bumblebees, hoverflies, and beetles. Through this exhibition, we aim to celebrate the diversity of pollinators and show how many species sustain life in our gardens and meadows.
Description
The hummingbird hawk-moth belongs to the Sphingidae family. It’s a day-flying moth with a wingspan of about 40–50 mm, orange-reddish hindwings, and a long proboscis that allows it to feed on deep tubular flowers. Its hovering flight makes it a remarkable and efficient pollinator often mistaken for a tiny bird.
Distribution and migration
This species occurs across Europe, including Switzerland and Poland, as well as in Asia and North Africa. It’s a migratory moth that moves north in spring from warmer regions. In mild years, it can be seen until late October, thriving in sunny, flower-rich landscapes.
Flowers it visits and pollination role
The hummingbird hawk-moth specializes in long, tubular flowers, such as:
-
honeysuckles (Lonicera),
-
buddleias (Buddleja),
-
red valerian (Centranthus ruber),
-
salvias (Salvia), petunias, phlox, lavender, and verbenas.
With its long proboscis, it transfers pollen efficiently between flowers that other insects cannot reach, playing a key role in maintaining floral diversity.
Larvae and host plants
The caterpillars feed mainly on Galium species (bedstraw). Leaving small patches of these plants in your garden supports local populations and the next generation of moths.
How to attract them to your garden
-
Plant nectar-rich tubular flowers (buddleia, honeysuckle, salvias, lavender, phlox, petunias, verbena).
-
Leave host plants for caterpillars (Galium).
-
Provide sunny, sheltered areas and avoid chemical pesticides.
These small steps can make your garden a haven for this delicate pollinator.
My observation — end of October
Seeing a hummingbird hawk-moth this late in the season was a pleasant surprise. Usually, they appear in May when migrating north from southern Europe. They’re most active in summer and early autumn.
In winter, adult moths cannot survive in cold climates — some migrate south, while others perish, leaving eggs or larvae behind in warmer regions.
Spotting one in October suggests that warmer autumns are extending their active season. Documenting and photographing these sightings contributes valuable data for studying climate change, migration, and pollinator ecology in Europe.
References / verified sources:
Butterfly Conservation — Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Plants for moths / nectar-rich tubular flowers
The Wildlife Trusts — Hummingbird hawk-moth species account
NatureSpot — Hummingbird hawk-moth (identification, foodplants)
Lepidoptera.eu — morphology and distribution data
Photo: Darek Wierzchowski