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Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth

 

These are moths belonging to the hawk moth family (Sphingidae).

 

Windless days and an abundance of flowers please the hawk moths. For a number of days already they have been quite industriously busy at the bird’s-foot trefoil clumps getting nectar; there they are easy to observe. Hawk moths don’t settle down on the flower but stretch out their proboscis just for a moment to suck the nectar in flight, and they do not buzz.

 

The body reminds of bumble bees but they have membranous wings, almost without scales. The outside edges of the wings have a dark band that is wider for the broad-bordered hawk moth. They can be seen almost everywhere in Estonia but they are not numerous anywhere.