Amazing Biodiversity in Kilteevan
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What is that in a garden in Kilteevan?
Is it a bird? Is it a butterfly? Is it a moth? This creature made us do a double take yesterday evening. Citizen Science is so exciting, interesting and rewarding!
Well, after some searching we have discovered it is a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum).
This was not easy to photograph as it hovered all the time like a hummingbird.
It has a long tongue-like proboscis that rolls out of its coiled tube to reach the nectar deep inside flowers. This tongue is about double the length of its body.
We have learned that they migrate from Southern Europe in variable numbers each year and that there have been sightings in Ireland in recent years. Amazing! What a great school day for the not so young!!!
We have submitted this record to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Lots more to learn about our moths on our forth coming Heritage Day event August 20th. Don’t forget to register in time. It’s all happening in Kilteevan
