Moro-sphinx ou Sphinx colibri (Macroglossum stellatarum). Espèce paléarctique de lépidoptères (papillons) connus pour leur faculté à butiner en vol stationnaire. Nature & Découverte | Nature & Découverte

Moro-sphinx ou Sphinx colibri (Macroglossum stellatarum). Espèce paléarctique de lépidoptères (papillons) connus pour leur faculté à butiner en vol stationnaire. Ce papillon mesure entre 4 et 5 cm d’envergure et pèse 1g. Nature & Découverte | Nature & Découverte

This year's northern apple sphinx, Sphinx poecila, have been unusually heavily parasitized. About four out of five caterpillars collected have produced parasitoid Braconid wasp larvae like these, and many of these same caterpillars have also produced various Tachind fly larvae. Multiparasitism - flies and wasps sharing a single host! As far as we can tell, these are native parasitoids. The Braconid wasp larvae seen here may even be specialist feeders on just a few closely realted Sphinx! Moments

Giant sphinx caterpillar crawling out of its old skin. #caterpillar #insect #bug | Matt's Macrophotography

Right now. Somewhere out there. A gaudy sphinx caterpillar is wagging its curlicue horn. Maybe a gust of wind set it off. Or maybe it's working to unnerve and deter a passing foraging bird. It is comforting to me that these wonderful things are happening independent of us. Take a moment outside and away from the human world and just imagine the trillion little moments that are unseen and unprocessed. Secret, their own, and beautiful. A fearsome little gaudy sphinx playing out its defensive displ