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White-lined Sphinx Moth

Hummingbird Moth Hummingbird Hawk Moth Caterpillars

Hummingbird Moth Life Cycle

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read14.6K views

Early this month my kids suggested we collect a couple of Caterpillars of the White-lined Sphinx (Hummingbird Moth) and Hummingbird Hawk-Moth feasting on the Gaura Lindheimeri plants in the front yard garden (we got five in total during their second development stage of instar).

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Life Cycle.
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Life Cycle.
Image Source: AnimalBook.org.
Caterpillar second instar stage.
Hummingbird Moth Caterpillar second instar stage.
Hummingbird Moth Caterpillar.
Hummingbird Moth Caterpillar.

A few days ago, most of our active, fascinating and ferocious eaters began to lose appetite. They started searching for a place to pupate, slightly shrunk in size and turned brown.

Caterpillars turning color.
Caterpillars turning color.
Caterpillar Old Skin.
Caterpillar Old Skin.
Caterpillar Cocooned.
Chrysalis.

The first Hummingbird Moth emerged from its chrysalis approximately two weeks later and the last two emerged today, two days following the first.

White Lined Sphinx (Hummingbird Moth).
White Lined Sphinx (Hummingbird Moth).

The whole process of feeding and watching the Caterpillars transform was a thrilling experience for my kids.

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JM Perez By JM Perez
Spring Birds Insects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

New Season of Regrowth

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read1.1K views

It’s the first day of Spring and a lovely day. I took pictures of a few lovelies blooming in the garden this morning. Some Freesias, which are said to symbolize innocence and friendship.

According to Teleflora.com, the 7th Wedding Anniversary Flower, Freesia, is a symbol of trust and fidelity. Freesia is an antidote to the proverbial saying that the seventh year of marriage provokes restlessness. Representing faithfulness through the seasons, it’s a traditional reminder of love’s honorable character.

White Freesia.
White Freesia.
White Freesia.
White Freesia.
Red Freesia.
Red Freesia.

A lovely lone Purple Tulip amongst Freesias.

Purple Tulip.
Purple Tulip.

The Purple-Leaf Cherry Plum is blooming with beautiful delicate scented light pink flowers.

Purpleleaf Cherry Plum.
Purple-Leaf Cherry Plum.

The Martini Tea Trees are starting to produce reddish-pink flowers.

Martini Tea Tree.
Martini Tea Tree.

For about a minute, I watched a pair of Crows perched on a wire share a moment of tenderness.

Crows in Love.
Crows in Love.

This first day of Spring wouldn’t have been complete without the sound of the Female Nuttall’s Woodpecker drilling holes in a utility pole. Click here or here to learn more about this bird.

Female Nuttall's Woodpecker.
Female Nuttall’s Woodpecker.

A White-Lined Sphinx Moth resting on a wood fence panel.

White-Lined Sphinx Moth.
White-Lined Sphinx Moth.

“It’s Spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”
― Mark Twain

From my Garden to yours: Happy Spring and Gardening!

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JM Perez By JM Perez