Athena Rayne Anderson

This post is based on one that was originally published on May 22, 2011, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online).

This photo shows a hummingbird clearwing moth pollinating phlox in daylight. Flowers pollinated by diurnal moth species generally fit the butterfly pollination syndrome: they open in the daytime and often have corolla tubes or nectar spurs. Unlike butterflies, moth pollinators are good at hovering and the flowers they visit don’t necessarily have a landing place or structures to hold onto. It’s common for moth pollinators to rest their forelegs on the flower from which they’re feeding, like the one in the featured image.

The pollination syndrome for nocturnal pollinating moths (those active at night) includes flowers that open at dusk or in the dark, are pale in color, and have intense sweet or spicy scents.

Featured photo copyright Wildreturn, July 15, 2018, CC BY 2.0.