Although the days are still incredibly hot, I’ve noticed in the past week or so that once the sun sets the air cools quickly. As soon as we are able to each evening, my husband and I go around the house opening up shades that have been closed against the sun all day, hoping to flow fresh, cooling air from the lake through the stifling house. (Tonight the lake air smells of cow poop. I’ll tackle that one another day.)
On two sides of the house we have flowers and shrubs and tonight my eye was drawn to movement in the bee balm. I thought I was looking at one rather large bee and so I decided to grab the camera and go out to capture a shot. Once I got my camera focused I realized that what I was looking at was not a bee. Turns out I had a hummingbird moth in my bee balm.
Want to learn more about these moths? See http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hummingbird_moth.shtml
I’m not certain whether I saw a hummingbird clearwing or a snowberry clearwing. Bragging rights to any one out there who cares to spend the time making the detailed analysis and comparison necessary to call it one way or the other. Me – I’m not doing it. I’m just glad to have seen a new outdoor friend today.
The Nature of Maine 
Hawk Moth. My grandmother once tried to tell us children they were “Baby Hummingbirds.”
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