hummingbird-moth
A hummingbird clearwing moth at one of our azaleas

Hummingbird moths are wonderfully surprising insects. The first time I saw one many years ago, I had no idea what I was looking at. It moved like a hummingbird, but obviously wasn’t one. Nor was it a large bumble bee. There are two varieties of hummingbird moth common to North America—the Snowberry Clearwing and the Hummingbird Clearwing (pictured above). The reddish coloration is a clear indication of the latter. This little guy was quite busy at the azalea blooming by our kitchen window.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 24-140mm lens @ 61mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/2000″ exposure.