At first glance, the hummingbird moth looks like a ruby-throated hummingbird, with its rapidly fluttering wings and small body hovering in front of a flower and drinking the nectar through its long proboscis. But upon closer examination, the large moth has two antennae and six legs. When they are not sipping nectar, the moths coil in their long proboscis.

Another difference between the two is the white stripes on the back of the hummingbird moth; the bird typically has a solid brown back. The hummingbird moth also makes a softer buzzing noise while it is engaged with a flower.

Hummingbird moths fly and feed during daylight, unlike other moths that are predominantly seen at night. The best time to see the hummingbird moth is in the evening, while there is still daylight. But time is running out this summer; these moths are typically seen from May through September.

Hummingbird moths get their nourishment from the same plants that attract their bird counterparts. They can typically be seen drinking from Japanese honeysuckle, bee balm, red clover, lilac, phlox, snowberry, cranberry, blueberry, vetch and thistles.

The body of the hummingbird moth is about 1½ inches long with a 2-inch wingspan. After the hummingbird moth emerges from its cocoon, its wings are dark red to dark brown. The moths lose most of their wing coloring when they take their first flight because the scales fall off, giving the wings a transparent appearance with small veins stretching from the body to the outer wing.

Before turning into moths, they are bright green caterpillars with darker green lines and dark-red spots on their abdomens. They have small pointed yellow tails. As adults, the moths have spindly bodies that are olive green with dark-red bands across the abdomens and rear tufts.

They can be found in gardens in the suburbs as well as open habitats and meadows.

Jim Olichwier can be reached at jmolichwier@pioneerpress.com.