A surge in sightings of the hummingbird hawk-moth across the UK has been reported, with experts attributing the boom to hot weather, strong winds, and food scarcity in Europe. Luke Burstow, a software project manager from Sussex, described encountering the insect while dining in his garden on 30 June. “It was a grey lump with orange wings,” he recalled. “I was like: ‘Wow!’ I didn’t even know they existed.” Burstow quickly photographed the moth, noting that even with a fast shutter speed, its wings—which beat roughly 80 times per second—appeared blurry.
Bumper Year Predicted for Migrating Moths
Butterfly and moth experts have indicated that 2026 could be a bumper year for hummingbird hawk-moths in the UK, following a notable increase in sightings during recent weeks. Richard Austin, a recording schemes officer at the charity Butterfly Conservation, stated: “We’ve had a big increase in sightings and inquiries about the hummingbird hawk-moth sent to us this year. We expect it is going to be a great summer for them.” However, he cautioned that it was too early to compare numbers with previous years.
Factors Behind the Influx
Warm southerly winds associated with recent heatwaves are believed to have facilitated the migration of these insects from continental Europe and north Africa. Richard Harrington, an honorary fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, noted: “It may also be that their food plants are drying out in their Mediterranean breeding areas.” Additionally, sunny weather in the UK has encouraged more people to spend time in gardens, increasing the likelihood of sightings, according to Ray Barnett, a council member at the British Entomological and Natural History Society. “I’m in Bristol and there’s lots of people recording it locally,” he said.
Potential for Year-Round Residence
There is a possibility that hummingbird hawk-moths could become resident in the UK if milder winters persist due to global warming. Hibernating adults that survive the British winter may reproduce regularly, as their larvae feed on common UK wildflowers such as lady’s bedstraw and hedge bedstraw. Barnett explained: “If these weather patterns continue, then [the moth] is going to survive winters regularly. It’s almost becoming a resident species rather than a purely migratory species.”
