Invertebrates
White-Lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata · also called white-lined sphinxes, hummingbird moth
A garden visitor watches what looks unmistakably like a hummingbird hovering at a flower bed in broad daylight, only for a closer look to reveal a white-lined sphinx moth, its wings beating fast enough to fool even careful observers.
Overview
The white-lined sphinx, Hyles lineata, is a large, day-active moth found in desert and grassland habitat across a broad range of North America. Its remarkably precise hummingbird-like hovering flight, striking striped wing pattern, and occasional dramatic caterpillar population booms following desert rains make it one of the more visually memorable and ecologically dynamic moths on the continent.
A moth that plays hummingbird convincingly
The white-lined sphinx commits fully to its hummingbird impression, hovering at flowers with a precision and speed that regularly fools people watching from just a few feet away.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and abundant across suitable desert and grassland habitat throughout North America.
White-Lined Sphinx: common questions
Why is the white-lined sphinx sometimes mistaken for a hummingbird?
This species can hover at a flower with control precise enough to closely resemble a hummingbird's feeding behaviour, and its relatively large size combined with rapid wingbeats reinforces the resemblance, which is why it carries the common alternate name hummingbird moth.
What triggers a mass population boom in white-lined sphinx caterpillars?
Unusually heavy desert rains can trigger a dramatic surge in plant growth that supports a much larger than usual caterpillar population, sometimes resulting in large groups of caterpillars appearing to migrate together across the landscape in search of food.
Is the white-lined sphinx active during the day?
Yes, unlike many moths that fly strictly at night, this species is frequently active during the day and at dusk, especially while nectaring at flowers, making it one of the more commonly observed moths in daylight hours.
How can you identify a white-lined sphinx?
Look for bold white and tan diagonal stripes across the forewings combined with pink patches on the hindwings, a striking and recognisable pattern that, together with its hovering flight, makes this one of the more identifiable sphinx moths in North America.