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White Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata) We get this in the Spring. They visit flowers in the evening, especially the purple Russian Sage blossoms, and hover at them just like hummingbirds - and they are about the same size as a hummingbird, too. They are attracted to light, and often land on the screen doors, where the cats go nuts trying to catch them. If one gets into the house, it may beat itself senseless flying into lights (this may be an unintenional, physiological problem - not because they "like" lights). To get the outside, just turn off all the lights in the house, turn on a porch light, and leave the door open - or turn the lights off and wait for it to land, then catch it in a big jar.
This one came into the house, and is hanging out on the accoustic ceiling. Here's a close-up of the markings on its back. The furry-looking stuff is actually scales. This is the same moth - the red is on the second wings, underneath.
Moths smell with their feathery antennae! Kinda cute little things, actually... The black arc where the "mouth" should be is a coiled-up tube the moth uses to eat nectar. Moths have compound eyes, which are strangely non-reflective. This one's eyes looked solid black in person, but somehow caught a reflection in the photo. |
