Hummingbird Hawk-moths Surge in UK Gardens Amid Hot Weather and Strong Winds

Unusual Sightings Spark Excitement Among Gardeners

A software project manager in Sussex, Luke Burstow, recounted an extraordinary encounter with a 'grey lump with orange wings' during his dinner in the garden on June 30. This 'grey lump,' as he described it, turned out to be a hummingbird hawk-moth, a rare and fascinating visitor from continental Europe and north Africa that has been spotted by numerous UK residents recently.

Burstow was taken aback when the moth zipped past during his meal. He marveled at how different this creature was from anything he had seen before in his garden. 'It was just so different to everything else you normally see,' said Burstow, a software project manager who initially didn’t know that such an insect existed.

Upon realizing the significance of the sighting, Burstow quickly Googled the species and ran inside to grab his camera. Despite the moth's speedy flight (with wings beating approximately 80 times per second), he managed to capture some photos, which showed the blur of orange wings moving rapidly in front of a buddleia flower.

Hot Weather and Strong Winds Drive Insect Migration

Butterfly Conservation officer Richard Austin noted that this year has seen a significant increase in sightings and inquiries about these moths. This boom is linked to the warm weather and strong winds, which have brought large numbers of hummingbird hawk-moths from southern regions to the UK.

Austin shared his insights with the Guardian: 'This made my day,' he commented on one Reddit user's sighting. He explained that 2026 could be a bumper year for these insects in the UK, following recent increases in sightings during the warmer months of the year. However, he cautioned that it was too early to compare this year’s numbers with previous years.

Hummingbird hawk-moths can now be spotted all around the UK, including Northern Ireland and even northern Scotland, according to Austin. Warm southerly winds associated with recent heatwaves have helped bring high numbers of these moths to the UK, said Richard Harrington, an honorary fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.

Harrington suggested another possible reason for their increased presence: 'It may also be that their food plants are drying out in their Mediterranean breeding areas,' he explained. This could encourage the moths to seek new sources of sustenance.

Impact on UK Habitats and Long-term Trends

Sunny weather has perhaps encouraged people to spend more time than usual in their gardens, raising the chances that they will spot one of these unique insects. Ray Barnett, a council member at the British Entomological and Natural History Society, observed: 'I’m in Bristol and there’s lots of people recording it locally.' He noted that if milder winters continue due to global warming, hibernating adults might survive and reproduce in the UK more regularly.

Hummingbird hawk-moth larvae feed on plants such as lady's bedstraw and hedge bedstraw, which are common wildflowers in the UK. Barnett added: 'If these weather patterns continue, then [the moth] is going to survive winters regularly. It’s almost becoming a resident species rather than a purely migratory species.'

With continued mild winters and an increasing presence of these insects, gardeners can expect more fascinating encounters in their outdoor spaces. The increased sightings offer not only excitement but also valuable insights into the changing climate and its effects on insect migration patterns.

Source: The Guardian