Hummingbird Hawk moth

Habitat: Almost all habitats. Prefers sunny, open places such as quarries, dry grasslands, forest edges and gardens.

Appearance: The hummingbird hawk-moth is a migratory butterfly that flies from southern Europe and North Africa to north-western Europe in the summer. It is common in Belgium, where it is seen in varying numbers, sometimes in large numbers. It is very common in the Netherlands. It is a butterfly that can be observed in varying numbers throughout the country each year.

Flying time: February – November. Most sightings are made in August and September.

Characteristics: Wingspan 36 – 50 mm.

Life cycle: The host plant is from the Rubiaceae family, such as Hedge bedstraw (Galium album), Yellow bedstraw (Galium verum) and other bedstraw species. The Butterfly that emerge in autumn do not lay their eggs until the following spring, depositing them individually or in pairs on the flower buds of the host plant. The caterpillars prefer to feed at night. Pupation takes place in a loose cocoon on the ground. The butterflies suck nectar, with a preference for flowers with a long corolla tube, such as Summer lilac (Buddleja davidii). In favourable locations, the butterflies often spend the night in small groups.