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Submitted by: Moni

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Sheila You had a white-lined sphinx moth on your echinacea. These moths do look a little like hummingbirds as they fly from flower to flower gathering nectar. The straw like mouthparts are long tubes for sucking up nectar...it is fun to see them do so. This particular sphinx moth does fly during the day as well as at night. Caterpillars of this moth do vary greatly in color, but like most sphinx caterpillars they have a 'horn' or tail on the rear end. While the moths do feed on nectar the caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants. They are not considered a pest of any crop. Here is a website with some additional information - http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3477 and the scientific name if you want to look for more information. Hyles lineata - White-lined Sphinx. Hope you see many this summer!

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