Identification
Adult: forewing clear area has partial crossband of dark scales near base, and distal margin of clear area is even or smooth-edged (not ragged-edged); legs reddish (vs. pale/white in thysbe and black in diffinis)
Range
Eastern North America: North Dakota and Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia, south along coast to central Florida. Apparently uncommon and local.
Habitat
Areas with hostplant(s), barrens? Adults feed actively on flower nectar during the day while hovering at blossoms.
Season
Adults fly from May (March in south) to August; likely two broods.
Food
Larvae feed on heaths, including
Blue Ridge Blueberry (
Vaccinium pallidum [=vacillans]), and laurel (
Kalmia).
Adults take nectar.
Life Cycle
One or two generations per year.
See Also
Hummingbird Clearwing (
Hemaris thysbe) forewing clear area distal margin is uneven or ragged-edged (not smooth-edged), and legs are pale/whitish
Snowberry Clearwing (
Hemaris diffinis) forewing clear area lacks partial crossband of dark scales near base, and legs are black
Print References
Covell, p. 40, plate 6 #17
(1)Internet References
pinned adult image by Paul Opler, plus US distribution map and species account (butterfliesandmoths.org)
