ID please... easy one :-)

[Jere Kahanpaa]

Hi, 

Eric Gibert <ericgibert at yahoo.fr> wrote:
> I would like your help for the Id of this strange "butterfly" (maybe
> it is not!) quite common in southern Europe. As I am French, please
> excuse my imperfect English (and lack of vocabulary... I do not have a
> dictionary here).
> Its body looks like a bulky bee, it flaps its wings very quickly, and,
> like a colibri, it can stays on a spot without moving. It has got a
> roster (mouthpart) like a butterfly to sucks the flowers.
> If you have its english/French common name, or its Latin name, I will
> browse the web for more info. I have to say that I am quite curious
> about this strange insect which combines bee, butterfly and colibri
> :-)

This sound a lot like a Bee Haw-moth (genus Hemaris, french name 'Sphinx Gazé'). 
You can find images of both collected specimens and moths in flight at

http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/sphingoidea/sphingidae/macroglossinae/hemaris/index.htm

Jere Kahanpää

 
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