hawk moth

noun

1. any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their very swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers.

hawk moth

noun

1. Also called: sphinx moth.  hummingbird moth. any of various moths of the family Sphingidae, having long narrow wings and powerful flight, with the ability to hover over flowers when feeding from the nectar See also death's-head moth

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawk moth¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Compounds called nitrate radicals, which can be abundant in nighttime urban air, severely degrade the scent emitted by the pale evening primrose, reducing visits from pollinating hawk moths, researchers reported in Science on Thursday.

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Have you ever seen a hummingbird hawk moth?

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Their flight paths suggest these death’s-head hawk moths have some complex navigation skills, the authors said, challenging earlier ideas that insects are just wanderers.

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Here’s another data point: A decades-long decline in plant-pollinating hawk moths has been reported in the Northeast, but its causes and consequences are uncertain because we know so little about the ecology of these insects.

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A hawk moth caterpillar can live for 10 to 30 days, and it only spends a few days of that molting, which is the small window in which it can appear snake-like, DeAndrade says.

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