Hummingbird Moth!
I went to a wildflower field today, and took about 150 (not exaggerating) photos of the same three species of wildflowers. For reference. Also other plants and some bees. But best of all was a HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING MOTH. Oh boy oh boy!
Humimingbird moths are seriously one of the coolest examples of one species evolving with the same physical characteristics of a completely different animal. Not just insects stealing owl eyes for their wings, but the entire physiology of an insect looking like a bird. They just blow my mind.
DAT PROBOSCIS.
When they fly, they actually hum like hummingbirds, and when they go to feed their proboscis sticks out like a hummingbird beak. WHAT. If they didn't have those antennae they would be a dead ringer for a hummingbird at a quick glance.
What kills me is that not only do they look like hummingbirds, but they look like the hummingbirds native to the area. This one looks a lot like a female ruby-throated hummingbird in coloration. Here's a closer look:
HNGGGGG Hummingbird moth I love you.
Humimingbird moths are seriously one of the coolest examples of one species evolving with the same physical characteristics of a completely different animal. Not just insects stealing owl eyes for their wings, but the entire physiology of an insect looking like a bird. They just blow my mind.
DAT PROBOSCIS.
When they fly, they actually hum like hummingbirds, and when they go to feed their proboscis sticks out like a hummingbird beak. WHAT. If they didn't have those antennae they would be a dead ringer for a hummingbird at a quick glance.
What kills me is that not only do they look like hummingbirds, but they look like the hummingbirds native to the area. This one looks a lot like a female ruby-throated hummingbird in coloration. Here's a closer look:
HNGGGGG Hummingbird moth I love you.