What in the world??!?

[*Raistlin*]

Hi all--I'm no biology wiz.. I was out the other day and saw this 'thing' buzzing around our Lilac bush. At first I thought it was just a bumblebee, but then noticed the front end looks like a moth.... and the rear end doesn't resemble a bumblebee at all.

Does anyone have any idea what this is???

Please send any answers to ben _at_ bensellswisconsin. com (remove spaces)

Thanks!

Also--this was taken with a high-speed digital, flapping wings should have been stilled--just to give you an idea how FAST this thing's wings were moving.... I'm also very familiar with hummingbirds, and this was way too small--like the size of a bumblebee.

[david23]

why didnt u capture it

[*Raistlin*]

why didnt u capture it

Maybe because it was the first time I'd seen anything like it, and wasn't thinking about getting this... Doesn't matter--it lands on our lilac bush just about every day. Capturing shouldn't be a problem.

[loveangel]

never seen it before.

[February Beetle]

It's a hummingbird moth, I believe. Let me go check... Yes, here it is on my most favorite site :
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/clearwing_moth.html
Class Insecta
Order Lepidoptera
Family Sphingidae, the Hummingbird Moths.

[February Beetle]

ps - Neat pictures! I think those would be so fun to see live, I never have.

[*Raistlin*]

ps - Neat pictures! I think those would be so fun to see live, I never have.

Move to Sussex, Wisconsin--I just saw a second one around the same lilac bush. I tried snapping a few quick photos, but couldn't get a clear shot before he/she/it took off! I'll be tryin in the next few days, though, if it doesn't storm too bad...

BTW, thank you VERY much for the information regarding exactly what this is. I never would have guessed. I had people telling me it's some kind of hummingbird, others saying it looks like a moth--but I'd never heard of one that goes after Lilac...lol Thanks again!

[February Beetle]

My pleasure, you have no idea how happy I was to help! BTW be sure to show us if you get any more pictures! And please don't smash it Bug Love!

[WolverSyr]

Very cool pictures!

My grandmother used to call them "Millers". I recall one that got into the house when I was a kid & I thought it was the coolest thing (after I got over being afraid it was a bee!)

I haven't seen one in years.

[kathywilliams]

BTW, thank you VERY much for the information regarding exactly what this is.

[Jammerz]

It is actually an alien scout, sent to our planet to spy on human activity.

Next time you see one, you should capture and interrogate it.

[aiurel]

I`ve seen something like that in the garden, but it was huge, the size of a small bird and it was grey with orange stripes.