A local photographer on a trip Sunday morning to shoot butterflies happened upon a rare hummingbird hawk-moth by a pond in Maple County of Changde, Hunan province.
The hummingbird moth, nicknamed a "four-in-one" in the insect world, falls between bird, bee, butterfly and moth.
Like butterflies, they have tentacles and a long tongue. They also emit an audible hum like a bee, but can suspend in the air to sip nectar. They fly and move just like hummingbirds, and can fly backward.
These day-flying moths are often seen in North America, but are quite rare in China.
(Photo: Baidu Baike)
