OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaHawk moths are big, strong moths that can fly super fast! They are also called sphinx moths. They got the name “hawk” because they are such powerful fliers. Some hawk moths look just like hummingbirds when they drink from flowers!
Hawk moths have thick, furry bodies and long, pointed wings. Their wings can be brown, gray, or colorful with pretty patterns. They are much bigger than most moths — some are as big as your hand! They have large eyes that help them see in the dark.
Hawk moths have a long tongue called a proboscis. When they are not using it, the tongue rolls up tight against their head — just like a party blower! When they find a flower, the tongue unrolls so they can drink the sweet nectar inside.
Hawk moths hover in front of flowers like tiny helicopters. They beat their wings so fast you can barely see them! While hovering, they unroll their long tongue and stick it deep into the flower to sip nectar. They look a lot like hummingbirds when they do this.
Hawk moths live all over the world! You can find them in forests, gardens, and even cities. Most hawk moths come out at night. Flowers that need hawk moths to visit release their strongest smell after dark to call the moths over.
- When a hawk moth drinks from a flower, pollen sticks to its face. It carries that pollen to the next flower, helping plants make seeds.
- Hawk moths can fly up to 12 miles per hour. That is faster than most people can run!
- Some hawk moth caterpillars have spots on their bodies that look like big eyes to scare away birds.
- The tobacco hornworm, a caterpillar that munches on tomato plants, grows up to become a hawk moth!
