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Hummingbird or bee?

My father and I saw a creature about 1 inch long, with a slender, bright green fuzzy body and maroon stripes. It had wings that moved so quickly you couldn't see them. It had antennae and a long probe from its head. It appeared to be pollinating our impatiens. We've never seen anything like this before. What was it?

I believe that you saw a sphinx moth, also called a hummingbird moth, because it looks so much like a hummingbird. It is a diurnal moth, which is common in gardens this time of the year. You can see and learn more about this insect on the eNature Field Guide site at: http://eNature.com/search/show_search_thumb.asp?sort=1&curGroupID=99&display=1&area=99&curPageNum=1&searchText=sphinx+moth