Hummingbird hawk moths (Macroglossum stellatarum) are fascinating insects that look and act like hummingbirds as they hover and feed on flower nectar. Their large size, swift flight, and ability to hover make them stand out from other moths. These unique moths can be found across parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Distribution in Europe
The hummingbird hawk moth is widespread across much of Europe. Here are some details on where they can be found:
- British Isles: Common and widespread across England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
- France: Found throughout France, including mainland France and Corsica.
- Spain and Portugal: Common across most of Spain and Portugal, including the Balearic Islands.
- Italy: Found throughout Italy, including Sardinia and Sicily as well as mainland Italy.
- Central Europe: Common in countries like Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland.
- Balkans: Present in countries like Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.
- Benelux: Found in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
- Scandinavia: Less common but can be found in southern Scandinavian countries like Denmark, southern Sweden, and southern Norway.
In Europe, the hummingbird hawk moth is mainly limited to areas south of 60°N latitude. They are rare or absent from northern Scandinavia, northern Russia, and other very northern parts of Europe. However, they have expanded their range northwards in recent decades as climate change has made more northern areas suitable.
Distribution in Asia
The hummingbird hawk moth can be found across parts of temperate, subtropical, and tropical Asia. Here are some details on its Asian range:
- Middle East: Present in countries like Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
- Central Asia: Found in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan.
- Indian Subcontinent: Common across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
- China: Present across much of central and southern China, as far north as Beijing.
- Korea and Japan: Recorded from South Korea and southern Japan, but less common than in other parts of Asia.
- Southeast Asia: Found throughout Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines.
In Asia, hummingbird hawk moths tend to be most common and widespread in subtropical and tropical areas. Their range extends as far north as Hokkaido in Japan and Beijing in China. They are generally rare or absent from Siberia, northern China, and the Himalayan plateau due to the colder climate.
Distribution in Africa
The hummingbird hawk moth occurs widely across North Africa, and can also be found in some parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Key details include:
- North Africa: Common in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.
- Horn of Africa: Present in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti.
- West Africa: Recorded in countries like Senegal, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria.
- East Africa: Found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Southern Africa: Occurs in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa.
In Africa, the hummingbird hawk moth tends to be most widespread in savanna and desert habitats of North Africa and the Sahel region. It becomes more localized further south with scattered records from East Africa and southern Africa. It is largely absent from dense rainforest habitats.
Preferred Habitats
Although hummingbird hawk moths can be found across three continents, they tend to favor certain habitats within their broad geographic range:
- Gardens: These moths frequently visit nectar-rich garden flowers like petunias, honeysuckle, verbena, and lilac.
- Meadows and grasslands: Attracted to open areas with wildflowers like knapweeds, thistles, clovers.
- Scrublands: Often found in scrubby habitats with flowering shrubs and herbs.
- Woodland edges: Drawn to tree lines and hedgerows where flowers abound.
- Coastal habitats: Found along coasts where seabreezes offer additional lift for feeding.
- Marshes: Visits marshy areas with flowers like mallow and sea lavender.
Although capable of inhabiting a range of habitats, the moth prefers areas with plenty of nectar sources and shelter from wind. Gardens and other flower-rich urban greenspaces have aided its expansion in Europe.
Seasonal Patterns
Hummingbird hawk moths generally have at least two generations per year. The emergence and flight periods vary across their range:
- Europe: Flies from May-October with peak numbers in midsummer.
- North Africa: Active year-round with peaks in spring and autumn.
- Middle East: Most abundant March-November with spring and fall peaks.
- India: Present September-December after monsoon rains.
- Southeast Asia: Often recorded February-November.
Mild winter climates allow for year-round activity in some subtropical regions. Farther north, the moths time their flight periods to coincide with peak flower abundance. Some migrate short distances to avoid extreme cold or heat.
Elevational Range
The elevational range of the hummingbird hawk moth varies across its distribution:
- Europe: Found from sea level up to 2000 m in the Alps and Pyrenees.
- Middle East: Occurs from sea level to at least 1700 m in Turkey.
- Central Asia: Recorded up to 1100 m in Kyrgyzstan.
- Himalayas: Ranges up to 2100 m in Nepal.
- Southeast Asia: Mainly found up to 1200 m.
- Africa: Most records below 2000 m.
In general, the species is most common at lower elevations but can thrive at higher elevations in mountainous areas provided sufficient warmth and flowers exist.
Future Outlook
The hummingbird hawk moth appears to be faring well across much of its range despite some threats. Some considerations for its future include:
- Climate change: Likely to expand northward range in Europe as climate warms.
- Pesticides: Broadscale spraying could reduce floral resources.
- Habitat loss: Agricultural expansion impacts grasslands and scrublands.
- Invasive plants: Could crowd out native nectar plants.
- Urbanization: Gardens and parks provide new habitat.
While climate change may allow northward expansion, habitat loss poses the biggest threat overall. Providing more urban greenspaces with suitable flowers could help provide refuge. Careful management of agricultural areas is also important to conservation.
Conclusion
In summary, the hummingbird hawk moth can be found across a broad swath of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It favors warmer temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones. Within these regions it thrives in flower-rich habitats with adequate shelter. Climate change may expand its range farther north in Europe as warming occurs. Conservation efforts should focus on providing suitable urban and agricultural habitat across its range.
