This moth is very small, very colourful and quick in flight. They feed on wild flowers.
According to Wikipedia: The Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides) is a moth of the Arctiidae family. It is found in the Indo-Australian region including Borneo, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua, Seychelles and most of Australia.

Tags:   Heliotrope Moth moth insect in flight morning Autumn Westerfolds Park Victoria Australia wild flower feeding concordians utetheisa pulchelloides arctilidae Nature macro photography close-up closetonature insecta SpecInsect National Geographic

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This image is included in a gallery "The Beauty of Nature" curated by Sonia Adam Murray.

Macroglossum is a species of Sphingidae. The three common species found in Hong Kong are M. pyrrhosticta, M. varigatum and M. heliophila. They have long proboscis and hover at the flowers when they feed, thus they are called Hummingbird Hawk Moth in the U.S. and Bee Moths in Europe.

They are very small and fast and unpredictable in flight path. I am very pleased to have captured a few nice ones on my last visit to Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve this season.

Tags:   hummingbird hawkmoth bee moth Lepidoptera macroglossum Nature Concordians closetonature In flight Feeding Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve New Territories Hong Kong Tai Po Travel Autumn stachytarpheta jamaicensis Jamaica Vervain bokeh SpecInsect insect insecta purple flower wildlife macro photography close-up National Geographic 鳳園蝴蝶保育區 長喙天蛾 long proboscis in gallery

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This image is included in a gallery "The beauty of the smallest --- #Butterflies #Vlinders #Caterpillar #Rups" curated by cirkel der natuur.

Phalaenoides glycinae, the Australian grapevine moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae that is native to southeastern Australia. The species was first described by John Lewin in 1805.

As a caterpillar, it is black with pale yellow lines that run across the body, giving it a chequered look. It has long white hairs thinly distributed over its soft skin, a light brown head capsule, red spots around the head area, and a prominent red croup. The caterpillar usually rests on the undersurface of the leaves that it feeds on.

The adult is a diurnal flying moth with a black wingspan of up to 5 cm having white bands on the forewings and a white outer margin on the hindwings. The abdomen is black on the top with orange bands below. The body features clumps of bright red hair on the end of the abdomen, and at the legs base. These red hairs protrude and are visible from atop.

The adult males have anterior brush organs which exude pheromones. The adults are social, feeding on nectar and live for around 2-3 weeks. The moth can ascend over 25 meters.

Spotted this moth resting on a dirt road during my morning walk. A scout ant near the left antenna is checking if it is a potential big food source. My mobile phone came in handy.

Tags:   Grapevine moth National Geographic narrow depth of field dirt road Macro photography close-up Concordians closetonature antennae Samsung mobile phone shot Telephoto lens Wildlife insect Oil painting filter Victoria Heidelberg Australia Spring morning overcast full frame uncropped geo tagged Phalaenoides glycinae Noctuidae grape moth broken wing scout ant samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Specinsect Insecta in gallery

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Macroglossum is a species of Sphingidae. The three common species found in Hong Kong are M. pyrrhosticta, M. varigatum and M. heliophila. They have long proboscis and hover at the flowers when they feed, thus they are called Hummingbird Hawk Moth in the U.S. and Bee Moths in Europe.

They are very small and fast and unpredictable in flight path. I am very pleased to have captured a few nice ones on my last visit to Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve this season.

The long proboscis of this moth is laden with pollen.

Tags:   hummingbird hawk moth bee moth proboscis purple flower Jamaica Vervain stachytarpheta jamaicensis Feeding flower floral Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve In flight insect insecta SpecInsect Travel New Territories Hong Kong Autumn Nature National Geographic Concordians closetonature flapping wings wildlife macro photography close-up 鳳園蝴蝶保育區 長喙天蛾 long proboscis

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Macroglossum is a species of Sphingidae. The three common species found in Hong Kong are M. pyrrhosticta, M. varigatum and M. heliophila. They have long proboscis and hover at the flowers when they feed, thus they are called Hummingbird Hawk Moth in the U.S. and Bee Moths in Europe. This one looks like those I have seen in Hong Kong.


They are very small and fast and unpredictable in flight path. I am very pleased to have captured a few nice ones on my first visit to Hwacheon in Korea.

Tags:   hummingbird hawk moth wildlife Nature Concordians closetonature close-up Macro photography Autumn Travel National Geographic dof narrow depth of field bokeh red flower orange flower floral Feeding In flight insect Insecta bee moth SpecInsect macroglossum Sphingidae 華川 Korea Hwacheon 韓國 Wild life of the world long proboscis Afternoon

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