They are very cool indeed. I managed to have one in my yard last year and was able to get quite a few photos of it. I happily share these with you.

Hummer wasn't willing to share

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That flower was tasty!

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feeding in flight

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feeding at rest

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I will stop there lol.....i purposely planted 4 o'clocks as a host plant for them. Here's to hoping...

Good luck in your search for a cat.

SCG

Lovely!
So you know your moth,...can you confirm this one, is it a
Hummingbird Clearwing,..was feeding on Evans Cherry.

Yeahp, it is a Hemaris thysbe (Hummingbird clearwing)

Nice capture as well!

SCG

Utmost of compliments on the fabulous photography skills! Can I assume those photos by you both are not taken on a simple point & shoot camera phone??? I'd love to hear yes for the camera phone, then maybe I can try to take a few.

I appreciate the tip on the four o clocks. I have an empty spot and may look for seed next trip into the big city. Or would I be too late for it to have growth for the moth to lay it's eggs on? I do have tomatoes (yipes) that I won't appreciate being the host plant, but if I have somewhere to transfer the children to.......And I've got a spare fuschia I'm willing to sacrifice. SCG: is this the 1st year that you're growing 4 o'clocks as a host plant or have you had success with the cats using them in the past? And is that pink flower with white trim a petunia bloom or a four o'clock bloom?

Thanks!

Thanks for the compliments. Unfortunately those photos were taken with older high end gear. A nikon D90 with a 1.4X teleconverter on a Vr II 70-200 lens.

But... the new cell phones have amazing cameras...so try! please and post

This is the first year I have plants for the moth. Unfortunately not as many as I wanted germinated and I am scared if I get a cat I won't be able to feed it....the tomatoes will bear the brunt.

The flower was a petunia. Can't remember the name of the cultivar but could find it if needed.

Thanks again.

SCG

Thank you Kioni!
No phone,...Canon 7D, 70 - 200mm lens.

Konrad my issue with the 70-200 is focus depth requiring me to crop post. Is the canon the same? I need 6' for focus.

SCG

Thank you SCG for I.D. and Latin name!

Yes, same here, I also need to crop.