Posted by Sacha on July 20, 2004, 5:05 am
Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths
in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of
summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so,
when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic
cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source?
I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia
involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds after garden to email me)
Posted by BAC on July 20, 2004, 6:06 am
> Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk
Moths
> in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of
> summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so,
> when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic
> cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source?
> I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia
> involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs.
The caterpillars feed mainly on bedstraws (Galium spp) so that's where you
would see them (caterpillars), about now, if there were any. I haven't seen
any Hummingbird Hawk Moths yet this year. Perhaps the weather hasn't helped?
Posted by Sue on July 20, 2004, 8:01 am
> > Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk
> Moths
> > in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end
of
> > summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if
so,
> > when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic
> > cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source?
> > I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia
> > involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs.
> The caterpillars feed mainly on bedstraws (Galium spp) so that's where you
> would see them (caterpillars), about now, if there were any. I haven't
seen
> any Hummingbird Hawk Moths yet this year. Perhaps the weather hasn't
helped?
> It was not until a fine day last October that I saw one on the Winter
Jasmine.I shall certainly be on the look out for any this year.
Sue,Derby
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Posted by Tim Challenger on July 20, 2004, 7:49 am
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:05:07 +0100, Sacha wrote:
> Last year quite a few of us remarked that we had seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths
> in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of
> summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so,
> when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic
> cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source?
> I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia
> involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs.
You won't find the cocoons on plants, they pupate in the soil. The pupae
are a chestnut brown and about an inch long. They don't make a cocoon
afaik.
--
Tim C.
Posted by David Hill on July 20, 2004, 8:23 am
This site is interesting, esp. the comments towards the end.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/3063.shtml
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk
XML site map
Moths
> in our gardens and that this was due to the long, hot period at the end of
> summer. But now I'm wondering if they will have produced young and if so,
> when we should expect to see them? I haven't seen any of their gigantic
> cocoons which, I'm guessing, would be on or near a favoured food source?
> I've suddenly thought of this while looking out of the window at Salvia
> involucrata which seemed to be a great favourite of theirs.