Country diary: Pirates of the patio have found their treasure | Nic Wilson

Hitchin, Hertfordshire: Some insects have evolved a long proboscis to reach the nectar of salvias and fuschias. Some take a cheeky shortcutPandemonium in the kitchen: "Hummingbird hawk moth on the salvia!" And there it is, that unmistakable shimmering flight above the patio; the moth's wingbeats so rapid it appears motionless as it sips from the tubular blooms of Salvia Amethyst Lips.It's only the second time I've seen a hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) in our suburban garden. I spotted the first last year, darting from flower to flower in the honeysuckle - another species with long corolla tubes made up of fused petals. The hawk moth's choice of tubular flowers is unsurprising, given that Macroglossum means long-tongued. Using its 25-28mm-long proboscis, this formidable day-flying moth can take refreshment from the parts other pollinators cannot reach. Continue reading...