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Often mistaken for a bird, the hummingbird hawkmoth is Britain's most unusual moth, thanks to its enormous size - an adult’s wingspan is up to 58mm across (almost 2.5 inches), hence it resembles a small hummingbird.

A member of the hawkmoth or Sphingidae family, which includes around 1,450 species, the first sighting of this giant creature was attributed to Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus, who came up with the name. He first spotted its grey-coloured silhouette back in 1758 and was initially confused as to whether it was a bird or a moth.

What features does the hummingbird hawkmoth have?

When in flight, it resembles its relative, the bee hawkmoth. Only when it lands can you see its beautiful and unique colourings. Its hindwings are a rich orange-brown colour and stand out due to their exceptionally wide span. Its forewings are a more muted grey-brown shade, while its body sports a black and white chequered pattern.

Emitting a loud humming sound, the wings of a hawkmoth beat at 70 to 80 times a second, enabling it to hover over plants. You will certainly know if you've seen or heard one in your garden, as they are hard to miss!

When is the hawkmoth's flight season?

Although more commonly spotted between May and September, there can be sightings throughout the year and there are still quite a large number about in October, especially if the weather's mild. It is different from most moths: as opposed to being nocturnal, it flies mostly during the day and can whizz along at speeds of up to 12mph!

The caterpillars are around from June to October. Waiting out the winter in sheds, outbuildings, crevices and holes in trees and walls, they pupate in a cocoon close to the ground, either among foliage or in leaf litter, before the first moths emerge in late spring.

What is their usual habitat?

They can be found in many diverse habitats including woodlands, coastal regions, urban areas and gardens. Categorised as "stable" since the 1970s, the species is widespread across England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

An immigrant from North Africa and southern Europe, it is most numerous in eastern and southern England, the Midlands and South Wales.

What does the hummingbird hawkmoth eat?

Its diet consists of certain plants, especially those rich in nectar. They can often be spotted feasting on Hedge Bedstraw, Lady's Bedstraw and Wild Madder, although they tend to lay their eggs on Red Valerian.

The hawkmoth’s impressive one inch-long, curved proboscis uncoils as it feeds, allowing it to eat nectar from larger flowers with a long corolla, including honeysuckle. This gives them a massive advantage over other insects who eat nectar.

Hawkmoths are said to be intelligent and can remember the plants that yield the highest amount of nectar, revisiting them many times.

What is the hummingbird hawkmoth's claim to fame?

This stunning species has long been known in popular culture as being a lucky omen. This belief was reinforced further during the Second World War: legend has it that a large swarm of the hawkmoths was spotted flying across the English Channel on D-Day on 6th June 1944.

If you're lucky enough to see a hummingbird hawkmoth in your garden, take a closer look. The females can lay around 200 tiny, light-green eggs on the host plant, designed by nature to look like buds to give them a better chance of survival. Scientists say they are much more prevalent on British shores than they were in the past because our winters have become milder in recent years.

Keep a lookout for them if you take a stroll in the countryside on a milder autumnal day, as they can still be spotted in woodland areas and are a sight well worth enjoying.