hawk·moth

or hawk moth (hôk′môth′, -mŏth′)

Any of various thick-bodied moths of the family Sphingidae, having long narrow forewings, short hind wings, and a long proboscis, and characteristically sucking nectar from flowers while hovering. Also called sphingid, sphinx moth.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hawk moth

hawkmoth

(Animals) any of various moths of the family Sphingidae, having long narrow wings and powerful flight, with the ability to hover over flowers when feeding from the nectar. Also called: sphinx moth or hummingbird moth See also death's-head moth

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

hawk′ moth`

any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers. Also called sphingid , sphinx moth.

[1775–85]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

hawk moth - any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed

hawkmoth, hummingbird moth, sphingid, sphinx moth

moth - typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

family Sphingidae, Sphingidae - hawkmoths

Manduca sexta - moth whose larvae are tobacco hornworms

Manduca quinquemaculata - moth whose larvae are tomato hornworms

Acherontia atropos, death's-head moth - European hawkmoth with markings on the back resembling a human skull

Translations

esfíngido

kiitäjä

бражник

hawk moth

n → Schwärmer m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in periodicals archive

The narrow bordered bee hawk moth was previously found on 12 sites across Wales, but four new sites have been discovered this year, including Cwm Cadlan National Nature Reserve in the Brecon Beacons.

More sightings of day-flying moth

Patricia believes the species she encountered was a hawk moth which are occasionally found in Ireland.

Holy mother of God; Mum's shock as insect the size of hand palm tries to fly into house

The death's-head hawk moth was discovered by beekeeper Ewan Campbell, a scientist from the Centre for Genome Enabled Biology and Medicine in Aberdeen.

Horror moth eyes bee movie role in hive skullduggery; Nature: Species stole show in Silence of the Lambs

If you let it complete its life cycle, there's a reward: from the pupa will emerge a large sphinx or hawk moth. Active in the twilight, the moths resemble hummingbirds and are fun to watch as they dart from flower to flower feeding on nectar.

Tomato plants will survive a hornworm or two

IN recent summers my garden has been visited by the odd hawk moth and red admiral butterfly.

The visitors to my garden

"I have never seen a moth so big." Other larger species of moths spotted in Wirral have included the Elephant Hawk moth, found by Ian Wiggins in his garden in Moreton.

On the WINGS of love... the giant moth mystery revealed... the giant moth mystery revealed..

Elephant hawk moth bri trea un lo hone flowers noctur s even This brightly coloured moth is a treat to see from now until early August.

Go summer wildlife spotting; It's the bank holiday, so what better time to start a game of Spot The UK Summer Visitor? Up and down the country you can see some spectacular wildlife (if you're lucky)

On our last morning we woke to the most enormous hawk moth resting on our screen door.

A Frantic Pilgrimage with Friends and Family (including kids with endless energy)

Five dead crickets, five cockroaches, 20 mealworms, one hawk moth and one huntsman spider."

GRUBS UP FOR BECKY & TOFF; wag & REALITY STAR WIN RESPECT ON DATE FRIGHT Girls gag as they eat vile critter meals to win food for starving campmates

They include the giant convolvulus hawk moth with a wingspan of more than 10cm.

Keep your eyes peeled for these giant European moths