[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Ross

This is actually a "Hummingbird Moth" They are also attracted to a lot of red colored flowers as well as bright colors like this. Hummingbird Moths - White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moths Sphingidae: Hyles lineata

Ross,
You are right. This is a beautifull specimen if Hummingbird moth. They belong to a "small" group of euroasitic hawk moth (also known as sphinx moth - family Sphingidae). One of the particularities of the Hummingbird moth is that they are diurnal (opposite to most Sphingidae).

The diurnal ones are very sensitive to colours and are also atracted by them (like in the case of Hummingbirds). However, nocturnal species are atracted to vhite (or very pale) flowers, normally with strong "sweet" odours.