Macroglossum trochilus

Macroglossum trochilus, the African hummingbird hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1823. It is very common in most habitats throughout southern and eastern Africa and in the Comoro Islands.^[2]

African hummingbird hawk-moth
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Macroglossum
Species:	M. trochilus
Binomial name
Macroglossum trochilus (Hübner, 1823)[1]
Synonyms
Psithyros trochilus Hübner, 1823 Macroglossa trochilioides Butler, 1875 Macroglossa lysithous Boisduval, 1875 Rhamphoschisma fasciatum Wallengren, 1858

Adults are frequently seen at flowers in full sunshine.

The length of the forewings is 15–18 mm.

The tail of the pupa moves when the pupa is disturbed or possibly in harm's way.

References

1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
2. Carcasson, R. H. (1967). "Revised Catalogue of the African Sphingidae (Lepidoptera) with Descriptions of the East African species" (PDF). Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum. 26 (3): 1–173 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

• Pinhey, E. (1962): Hawk Moths of Central and Southern Africa. Longmans Southern Africa, Cape Town.