It's most likely a Sphinx, or Hummingbird, moth.

It pollinates flowers as it drinks the nectar.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird moth

Yeah that's what it is.... look how cute! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1347658}}

I just love those things! I look forward to seeing them around my hosta flowers and clome every year. I find them mostly around dusk. Ain't nature grand?

They love plants in the tomatoe family. Even though they can be a little damaging, I always leave the hornworms on the plants.

dgower........what plants do you usually find the hummingbird moths' caterpillars on?

tomatoes, brugmansia, and ground cherry

They aren't those big tomato hornworms, are they????

yep

You're kidding! I guess I'll be a little more friendly to them now! Actually, I never kill them when I find them eating all my tomatoes, but I do remove them to the bushes. I like them much more as moths!

Yep, that is one of the clearwing moths. That is an AMAZING photo! Did you take it, flowersandthings?

The Sphingidae are some of my favorites. They are all so beautiful too.

Lol I wish no.... It was a photo I found through googling. I didn't have my camera when I saw it. I often am not quick enough with the wildlife. I also saw the cutest groundhog the other day that bolted (fast as he could which wasn't very fast!) when he saw me. :)

Just a few thing need clarification on this thread:
The hornworms you find on tomatoes turn into a sphinx moth called a Five-spotted Hawkmoth or they can be Carolina Sphinxs. The little hummingbird moths are called Clearwings (also sphinx moths), but the caterpillars eat viburnum, cherry, plum, honeysuckle or snowberry.

Hey thanks for clarifing, I always thought it was the other way around.

Thanks Stuart!

This thread was a big help, many thanks to all! We just saw our first Hummingbird Moth at 8PM on 14July in our backyard in Canton, MI. The camera was not handy.

We must be neighbors. I, too saw that moth yesterday in my yard, in Canton. It was near my petunias yesterday evening. I first thought it was a hummingbird. My mother-in-law insisted it was a baby hummingbird. But, hummingbirds do not have antenna. I got a pretty good look at it. It stayed around for a while and nearly hit me in the head. It was close enough to my ear to hear it buzzing. It sounded like a hummingbird, but, didn't quite move quick enough though. WOW. Nature is fantastic. I never knew that they existed.

I saw what I think was one of these yesterday (7/17/2005) in the flower garden. It was hanging around the buttefly bush.

I managed to catch him on the digital camera.

Here is a link that might be useful: Moth

Does anyone know how long they live? I mean it looks so much like a hummingbird, it actually has a large body. Hard to think it could only live one season.
This is a good site for any ID for strange insects to be indentified. Hope it helps. The name is well harsh, but the information is very good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pest Control Canada

Great little "bug". And yes, Nature sure is grand! These guys love my butterfly bushes.

It's not a hummingbird moth...still researching...maybe this photo link will help the experts...

Here is a link that might be useful:

judging by the size of the flower next to this creature and by the stiletto-like appendage there, I am guessing what you have here is some kind of bee fly, although I have never seen one that amazing shade of reddish orange before.

anyone else...?