The hummingbird hawk-moth is considered as a extraordinary creature that resembles a hummingbird but is actually a moth. It possesses remarkable abilities that make it stand out in the insect world. Unlike typical moths, this unique species exhibits behaviors reminiscent of hummingbirds, including hovering and rapid wing flapping.
One of the most striking features of the hummingbird hawk-moth is its hovering ability and it is achieved through its wings’ rapid fluttering, which produces an audible hum. Clocking in at around 85 wing beats per second, this moth’s wing speed rivals that of some hummingbird species.
With its long, curled proboscis, the hummingbird hawk-moth feeds on nectar from flowers with tube-shaped petals. This proboscis nearly as long as its entire body allows the moth to reach deep into flower centers to extract nectar, a vital energy source.
What sets the hummingbird hawk-moth apart is its exceptional vision, it is crucial for precise feeding maneuvers. While most insects rely on other sensory cues, such as smell or touch, this moth depends heavily on visual feedback to accurately position its proboscis within a flower’s center.
Researchers led by Anna Stöckl at the University of Konstanz in Germany conducted a study published in the journal PNAS to investigate how hummingbird hawk-moths utilize visual feedback during feeding. Using high-speed cameras, they observed the moths as they interacted with artificial flowers adorned with various patterns.
Their findings revealed that the moths employ continuous visual feedback to adjust their movements and ensure their proboscis reaches the center of flower patterns where nectar is typically located. This behavior demonstrates the moth’s ability to integrate visual information into precise feeding actions, a task usually associated with mammals due to its complexity.
Despite having relatively simpler nervous systems compared to mammals, hummingbird hawk-moths exhibit sophisticated neural circuits enabling visually guided feeding maneuvers. The ability to use vision for appendage guidance is uncommon among insects, making the hummingbird hawk-moth’s behavior particularly intriguing to researchers.
