Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe
Sphingidae or Sphinx Moth Family
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A large, plump, furry moth, with a wingspan a bit over 2 inches. Coloring is
variable, but usually on the back it is olive green to golden olive
toward the head, followed by reddish brown and rich burgundy to nearly
black towards the fan-like tail. Below it is yellow on the thorax, and burgundy on the
abdomen. Legs are yellowish. Wings are partially
transparent, giving it the common name of "clearwing." However,
you will be lucky to see the wings as it is usually flapping them so
fast they are invisible. Looks and acts like a small hummingbird. Like hummingbirds, and unlike most moths, it flies by day, with wings moving so fast they are invisible. It hovers in front of flowers, using a long, beak-like proboscis to sip nectar. It evens produces a buzzing noise from the movement of its wings. It is a bit smaller than a true hummingbird, and, of course, hummingbirds do not have antennae. The caterpillar is fat and green. It munches on honeysuckle, cherry, and hawthorn leaves, which are all found in the Park. Native to northern and eastern North America from Alaska to Texas to Florida to Newfoundland. It likes open areas with nectar-producing flowers, so look for it in the meadows and the entrance wetland. Three Clearwing Moths mimic hummingbirds in North America, and all are similar. Snowberry Clearwing (H. diffinis), which is known from the Park, is mostly black below and has black legs. Slender Clearwing (H gracilis) has red legs, and is found north of us, and along the coast south of us. The three species also differ in wing pattern, but this is not definitive, and hard to check anyway. |
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