Possible Slender Clearwing Moth (?) - Hemaris thysbe

Moved

Moved from Hemaris.

… Jason D. Roberts, 19 July, 2008 - 5:41pm

Slender Hummingbird Moth?

I, just tonight, had one of these very things in my butterfly bush, just fluttering away like a hummingbird. I'm new here, and not sure how I can attach a picture, but, I got some really great shots. I didn't know what it was, until I came upon this site. If someone could instruct me, I'd be more then happy to share them. Thank you for the info!

… BrendaW, 17 August, 2006 - 7:10pm

Hi BrendaW

and welcome to BugGuide! For info on image submission, moving, etc., check the Help page here. Looking forward to seeing your pics...

… Robin McLeod, 17 August, 2006 - 8:10pm

ID resource

There are photos and descriptions of gracilis and thysbe at:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/wi/toc.htm

That's a page for Wisconsin moths- just a few of the more common species. One field mark there is whether the outer edge of the transparent area is even (gracilis) or ragged (thysbe). Looks on the ragged side to me, but it's hard to tell.

… Tom Whelan, 2 August, 2005 - 11:07am

tough call

Based on the photos Robin linked to, the abdominal structure looks more like gracilis, but after reading the Wisconsin USGS site, I think thysbe is more likely--I agree with you that the outer edge of the transparent hindwing area looks ragged and closer to the thysbe photo there. Any Sphingid experts around?

… Ethan Friedman, 2 August, 2005 - 10:17pm

gracilis vs. thysbe

I'd lean more toward Slender Clearwing (Hemaris gracilis) also, based on comparison photos with H. thysbe here.
The bare area on the hindwing touches the leading edge of the wing in thysbe but not in gracilis. And the pointed, projecting "tail" in your photo matches the CBIF photo of gracilis, whereas thysbe has a blunt, truncated tail. I don't know whether those features are reliable, though...

There's a Guide page for Slender Clearwing but no photos yet.

… Robin McLeod, 2 August, 2005 - 10:01am

yup

Looks like Hemaris thysbe to me. Amazing aren't they? I was told by a gardener earlier this summer that the most incredible tiny little hummingbird was visiting her flowers. Turned out to be this, of course. And this was a pretty knowledgeable person! The mimicry is incredible. If I was a predatory bird or bat, I'd think twice before snapping this guy up....

… Ethan Friedman, 2 August, 2005 - 5:19am

I agree, it was amazing! Thi

I agree, it was amazing! This is the first time I have even seen one...I read about them on the net when I researched a photo of one a friend had taken (she didn't know if it was a bird or bug), but until now, had never seen one up close. My husband and kids were there and they were amazed too. Neat little creatures!

… jhberri, 2 August, 2005 - 10:37pm