we saw something that was colored like a bumble bee but acted like a humming bird. it was black and yellow and only about 1-2" long. it was flying back and forth between a few flowers and i am 100% positive it wasn't a bee. this was in central ohio.. anyone know for sure what it was. i don't want guesses from people unless they have a good idea of what it is including a name. it would be nice for a reference of where i can look it up with a picture.
2006-09-26 14:45:55 · 11 answers · asked by valiantw2001 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
ok.. some of you don't listen.. it flew within 2' of my face and almost hit me.. i know a wasp, hornet or yellow jacket when i see one. and i know it wasn't a rubythroated hummingbird.. i believe that the few of you whom suggested a clearwing are probably correct... i was just hoping to get a few agreements to be sure.. the only problem is i didn't think they came in black and yellow..
2006-09-26 16:32:25 · update #1
ok.. it must have been a hummingbird moth.. it had the same flaired tale as the male of that species.. as for the coloring i don't know.. it was definitely black with yellow bands..
2006-09-26 16:38:02 · update #2
No, I don't think that this was a 'Canary' Gold- Finch, although, they would be in the area, that you live in. There is a "Hummingbird" Moth, but, they are not 'typically' colored with bright colors. They are the same approximate size of a hummingbird, and usually only come out at dusk, and after dark, when it cool and dark.Their coloration is usually drab and brownish (like a moth). But, there is a variety of moth that is called, Snowberry Clearwing Moth, that looks like the cross between a hummingbird and a bumblebee! Which, would take quite a 'good' and 'quick' eye, to be able to tell the difference. That, would be my assumption, of what you and your cousin saw...
2006-09-26 14:56:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
By your description it was probably NOT a ruby throated hummingbird (1). Nor does it seem to be a rufous hummingbird (2)
Using process of elimination, and by deduction we conclude that in all likelihood what you saw was neither bumblebee nor wasp, and not a hummingbird. I think you may have seen a moth which mimics a hummingbird. That's right, it camouflages itself to look like a hummingbird:
"While most sphinx moths visit flowers at night, hummingbird moths (also called clearwings because of the transparent patches in their wings) frequent gardens in full daylight. At a distance, some black and yellow species resemble huge bumblebees; however, bees settle on the flower, descending into the bloom, while hummingbird moths feed in a tireless manner, seldom resting.
Hummingbird-moth caterpillars feed mainly on honeysuckle, hawthorn, snowberry, and viburnum, but different species have special taste preferences."3
2006-09-26 15:02:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
there really is no bird that small, and the hummingbirds that inhbabit that area are not black and yellow. There is also not really any bird that flys like a humming bird. It has to be some sort of an insect.. maybe a moth....they can get quite large. The only black and yellow bird that comes to mind is an American Goldfinch.
2006-09-26 15:33:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would have to go with the Hummingbird moth also. I live in Central OH and have seen them myself. Seems like a likely candidate.
2006-09-27 07:39:21 · answer #4 · answered by zoogrl2001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Could be a hummingbird moth, or a snowberry clearwing, or whatever common name you want to call it, but Hemaris diffinis is more black and yellow than Hemaris thysbe.
2006-09-26 20:52:02 · answer #5 · answered by candy2mercy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure it wasn't a hornet? They are colored like a bee, but as big as a hummingbird. They will attack for no reason!!! Look up hornets on google and find a picture!
2006-09-26 14:47:35 · answer #6 · answered by Elizabeth L 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yellow Jacket?
http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/18417
maybe Hummingbird Moth... but they dont look that much like bees...
http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/wildlife/index.php?subject=Insects&id=5
2006-09-26 14:47:01 · answer #7 · answered by Ashley P 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
is that possible 1-2 inches long and black and yellow might as well be a wasp, they can grow up to 1-2 inches long
2006-09-26 14:48:08 · answer #8 · answered by tonyma90 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hit the library and: Check out any Audubon Book and/or Roger Tory Petersons books on birds.
2006-09-26 15:06:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was probably a moth. Go to www.hummingbirds.net and read their FAQs or here http://72.41.49.149/page5b.html. for more info.
2006-09-26 14:54:14 · answer #10 · answered by noone 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋