Q: Are sphinx moths harmful to my garden?

A: No — sphinx moths are excellent pollinators. Their adult form does no plant damage. (Some caterpillar species feed on leaves, but they're part of a healthy garden ecosystem.) Enjoy them.

Q: Can sphinx moths use hummingbird feeders?

A: Some have been documented attempting to use feeders, but their proboscis isn't well-suited to feeder ports. If you see a moth at your feeder at dusk, it's a moth — but it won't get much from it.

Q: What plants attract both sphinx moths and hummingbirds?

A: Both are attracted to tubular flowers — petunias, bee balm, phlox, honeysuckle, cardinal flower, and native salvias. A garden designed for hummingbirds will often also attract sphinx moths. This is a feature, not a bug.

Q: Is the hummingbird clearwing moth rare?

A: Not particularly — it's found throughout most of North America east of the Rockies. It's just easy to overlook because people assume they're seeing a hummingbird. Once you know to look for moths, you'll start seeing them much more often.

Q: I'm 100% sure I saw a hummingbird at 10 PM. Is that possible?

A: Very unlikely. Hummingbirds roost at night. A hovering creature feeding on flowers at 10 PM is almost certainly a White-Lined Sphinx or another night-flying sphinx moth species. They are remarkably convincing. —

Hummingbird or Sphinx Moth? How to Tell the Difference | NectarBloom™