![]() Whilst in copula, unlike other hawkmoths, this species is still capable of flight in a manner similar to butterflies. Pairs in copula can occasionally be found in such locations, although they seldom stay together for more than an hour. When not feeding, pairs in courtship can be seen dashing up and down around steep cliffs, buildings, or over selected stretches of open ground. Apparently, this species also has a fine memory, as individuals return to the same flower-beds every day at about the same time (Pittaway, 1993). Its powers of flight are amazing, and have been studied in detail by Heinig (1987). A great wanderer, being present right across Europe from the alpine tree-line to city centres, wherever nectar flowers may be found. Whatever the flight-time, this species is very strongly attracted to flowers yielding plentiful supplies of nectar, such as Jasminum, Buddleja, Nicotiana, Tulipa, Primula, Viola, Syringa, Verbena, Echium, Phlox and Stachys, hovering in front of and repeatedly probing each bloom before darting rapidly to the next. Herrera (1992) found maximum activity occurring between 18.00 and 20.00 hours in southern Spain. Very hot weather tends to induce a state of torpidity in many, with activity then confined to the relative cool of the morning and late afternoon. In behaviour, this moth is exceptional amongst European Sphingidae: whilst preferring to fly in bright sunlight, it will also take wing at dawn, at dusk or at night in rain, or on cool, dull days. According to the Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic: “Diurnal. This is really a nice action photo of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Macroglossum stellatarum.
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