Snowberry Clearwing Moth

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Image Credit: Jessica R. from Tuscumbia, AL

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Image Credit: Greg B. from Paducah, KY

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The Snowberry Clearwing Moth is a large, furry Sphinx moth that is commonly mistaken for a large bee or a hungry hummingbird.

The Snowberry Clearwing is a large moth from the the Sphinx family. Members of this family are strong fliers and many species in this genus resemble birds and bees. Though this species looks, and flies like a bird, it is not. Transparent wings with black veins are difficult to see when in motion, but they are not feathered. Instead of a bird's beak, the Snowberry Clearwing has a curly proboscis for drinking nectar like other moths. It does not land on flowers like bees do, but its colors and hovering behavior mimic them well.

The caterpillar is bright green and feed on the leaves of plants like snowberry, dogbane, and honeysuckle. It has a horn at one end that looks potentially menacing, but is actually quite harmless. Up to two generations can be produced a year. Adults are not entirely shy around people and are usually content to continue feeding at a safe distance from onlookers.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Sphingidae

Genus: Hemaris

Species: diffinis

Identifying Information

Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis

Category: Butterfly or Moth

Size (Adult; Length): 32mm to 51mm (1.25in to 1.99in)

Colors: yellow; black; brown

Descriptors: flying, hairy

Territorial Map

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Newfoundland and Labrador

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Butterfly and Moth Anatomy

Graphic showing basic anatomy of a common North American butterfly and moth insect

Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.

Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.

Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.

Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.

Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.

Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.

NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.

Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis)

The Snowberry Clearwing Moth is a large, furry Sphinx moth that is commonly mistaken for a large bee or a hungry hummingbird.