Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth

The Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth was introduced to North America in the 1960s as a biological control agent against the invasive plant Leafy Spurge. Although it defoliated the plants, it wasn't as successful as hoped. It did excel in pollination—specifically for the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, an endangered species. These night-flying moths are spectacular to watch as they hover, hummingbird-like, over long-tubed flowers, sipping nectar. Sometimes they come out in the late afternoon, and I was lucky to catch this one in action with enough light to photograph.

Nikon D7200 with 105mm

Raw file editing in Adobe