Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

During the balmy months of a UK summer, you may be shocked to see what at first glance appears to be a small hummingbird. Since hummingbirds do not naturally live in the UK what you are likely to have seen is a hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Exotic Look-alike

This large, quick moving and highly manoeuvrable insect is a day-flying moth that hovers in proximity to flowers inserting its long proboscis to extract the nectar within. It is this behaviour that gives the moth its name.

The proboscis is a long, thin tubular structure that the moth uses like a straw to ‘suck’ up nectar. In hummingbird hawk-moths the proboscis is usually around an inch long (27mm or so) which is around the same length as the rest of its body.

Hummingbird hawk-moths have a wingspan of around 1.7 inches (45mm or so) and those wings produce a low, powerful hum when in flight that further justifies their name.

Local or Tourist?

These creatures are widespread across Europe, northern Africa and Asia and are strong fliers, the majority of those seen in the UK are likely to be migratory visitors. UK winters are generally too harsh for these moths, but some hardy individuals will overwinter in dense vegetation or sheltered man-made structures.

In the summer of 2022, a spike was seen in sightings of hummingbird hawk-moths across the UK (including as far north as the Orkney Islands). This was probably due to the abnormally hot summer seen that year with the southerly winds that prevailed, aiding the migration of these well-travelled moths north from the warmer climes of Southern Europe. They are a sight that is likely to become more common in the UK as climate change continues to raise the temperature across the planet.

Whilst the UK climate is not perfect for these stunning creatures they do breed in the UK laying their eggs on bedstraw (Galium verum), Hedge Bedstraw (Galium album) and also Wild Madder (Rubia peregrina).

How to Attract Hummingbird Hawk-moths to Your Garden

Firstly, try growing as many of their favourite plants as you can. For the adults, a quick trawl around the web reveals that they like honeysuckle, red valerian, buddleia, lavender and verbena. We’ve also seen them here on salvia as late as mid-October. These are all great flowers to grow in your garden that will attract many insects.

To encourage breeding then try planting bedstraws and wild madders which are the staple food for their caterpillars. Seeds for these wildflowers are readily available online.

Of course, to help all wildlife, you should avoid using any pesticides or herbicides; these chemicals will destroy life in your garden.

Finally, don’t be too tidy in your garden, those unkempt corners of your border or that forgotten pile of prunings could be just the place for a hummingbird hawk-moth to see through the cold winter months.

Good Luck Omen

If you do attract hummingbird hawk-moths to your garden, then you could also be in for some good luck too. Legend has it that to see a hummingbird hawk-moth is good luck.

One such case was on the 6th of June 1944, D-Day, when allied forces crossing the English Channel sighted an eclipse (yes, a group of moths is called an eclipse) of hummingbird hawk-moths. Although the days that followed were horrifying, the operation was a success, leading to the end of the war in Europe.