A few weeks ago I saw what I thought had to be a hummingbird hovering among my wildflowers. It seemed mighty small, even for a hummingbird, but it sure looked like one given it's 'beak' and iridescent rapidly moving wings. At the time I was excited that my garden had actually attracted a hummingbird, and that they could be so small... So, with amazement I heard the caller's question/description, and then the guest giving the name 'hummingbird hawk moth'. I googled the image, and yes, an enormous, beautiful moth. Thank you! I would have never known.

For the caller who asked about a butterfly that looks like a hummingbird, it is definitely a hummingbird moth--not uncommon if you have the right kind of flowers in your garden. Each year, when my phlox bloom, the hummingbird moths return. They are fascinating and beautiful.

Do butterflies play a role in plant propagation like bees do?

I didn't know butterflies left anything to fossilize! How can you tell from fossils that they had colors & were diurnal?

I was fortunate enough to see a live Luna Moth.They are very beatuful. Has anyone done a genetic analysis to see if it is more moth or butterfly?

I once heard that butterflies were originally called "flutterby's". ??

Joseph Scheer, a visual artist at Alfred University, has made a career of hi-res scanning moths and butterflies and enlarging them to nearly 4 foot wingspans. Astonishing images.

http://www.google.com/search?q=joseph+scheer&hl=en&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YzJKUMq-Ler30gHmu4DACA&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQsAQ&biw=1633&bih=986

Hi
How does metamorphosis work in the context of evolution?
Surely something can't die a little bit, then a bit more and then become a different creature?
I have heard creationists use this as an illustration of a flaw in Darwinian logic

Is there a downside to the mail-order butterfly industry?

Please mention the famous lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov, who was professor of literature at Cornell & professor of entomology at Harvard during the 1950's. I studied European literature with him in the fall of 1951.

I posted a photo on your Facebook page and would love confirmation of its ID and an explanation/guess as why it was on my house.

What should we be doing to protect the lives of butterflies?

P.S. Thanks so much for your programming. I'm enjoying this so much!

Would wing scales have a purpose if there were no spider webs?

I understand -- I believe from a Scientific American article -- that butterflies can see three miles. Is this so?