iN VIDEO: Hummingbird moths buzz around in Kamloops

Hummingbird moths are showing up in gardens in Kamloops and the Okanagan and they are a fascinating insect as they mimic the sounds and behaviours of humming birds.

The moths hover in the air as they feed on the nectar of flowers with their wings beating so fast they make a buzzing sound and are difficult to see.

Earlier this week, Kamloops gardener Shawna Wright watched two of the insects feeding on her honeysuckle flowers and at first glance, and they look like hummingbirds flitting from flower to flower.

There are several species of hummingbird moths that are seen in the summer months across the country drinking nectar from flowers that include Japanese honeysuckle, beebalm, snowberry and thistles, according to Nature Canada. The moths are brightly coloured and have large, plump bodies compared to their wingspan, and unlike most moths, they fly around during the day so are easier to spot. 

To help attract hummingbird moths to your yard, grow a variety of native plants and leave leaf litter on the ground for caterpillars to build cocoons in the winter. 

If you get cool footage of interesting insects in your neck of the woods, send them to news @infonews.ca.