Snowberry Clearwing
The Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is one of a group of moths known as the hummingbird or sphinx moths. It is a bumblebee mimic. The adults can be quite variable in appearance, but the thorax is olive or golden-olive, the abdomen is black dorsally with one to two segments being yellow near the end, but the ventral surface is black. The wings are clear, with reddish brown veins and borders. The Snowberry Clearwing is the only eastern species to have blue, hair-like tufts on the first black segment of the abdomen in some newly hatched individuals. This is the only hummingbird moth that has a black band that goes through the eye and extends down the side of the thorax, and it also has black legs.
The Snowberry Clearwing is found in a number of habitats including open fields, gardens, streamsides, and gardens. It is found in the eastern 2/3 of the country, east of the continental divide, from Maine to Florida. Just east of the divide, it overlaps in range with another species, Hemaris thetis,(the Rocky Mountain Clearwing).
The caterpillar hosts plants include the Snowberry, Honeysuckle, and Dogbane. Adults feed on nectar from flowers including lantana, honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, and Canada violet.
The Snowberry Clearwing is found in a number of habitats including open fields, gardens, streamsides, and gardens. It is found in the eastern 2/3 of the country, east of the continental divide, from Maine to Florida. Just east of the divide, it overlaps in range with another species, Hemaris thetis,(the Rocky Mountain Clearwing).
The caterpillar hosts plants include the Snowberry, Honeysuckle, and Dogbane. Adults feed on nectar from flowers including lantana, honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, and Canada violet.