08/06/2026
Just noticed this beautiful "blonde" moth and had to know what it is and "do" in the garden.
Balsam Striped Hawkmoth or
(Hippotion balsaminae).
The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly called hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as hornworms, quite large. Mostly found in the tropics, they are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their agile and sustained flying ability.
Some hawk moths can hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, similar to Humming birds. They have been studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called "swing-hovering" or "side-slipping". This behaviour may be to deal with or ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers. They look a bit like Mirage aircraft, to me....
Sphingids moths are some of the faster flying insects; some are capable of flying at over 19 km/h. They play a vital role as night pollinators.
Info from Wikipedia.
