Hummingbird Clearwing - Hemaris diffinis

This is H. diffinis--Snowberry Clearwing

Moved from Hummingbird Clearwing. I have just (7/19/08) been having a conversation (on Flickr) with a nature photographer in New Jersey about these two species. He (and I) have extensive collections of photos of both species. It is very clear that the border of the postmedian clear area of the forewing is quite variable in H. diffinis and should not be used as the sole mark of distinction. (It has been suggest that this border is jagged in thysbe and smooth in difinis, but we both have photos of diffinis that have a jagged border.) The foreleg color (dark in diffinis, light in thysbe) plus the configuration of the eye stripe (descends down toward leg in diffinis, back towards thorax in thysbe) are consistent. Looking at those features, this is clearly the Snowberry Clearwing, Hemaris diffinis. Compare, for instance, these images:

… Cotinis, 20 July, 2008 - 3:18am

Thanks!

I've revisited these a couple times. Your comments on the different pages are very helpful. It is starting to make sense now.

John

… John Fox, 20 July, 2008 - 10:27pm

humming bird moth

I live in Goldsboro NC and I have one of these in my front yard. The kids and I love to watch it go from one flower to another. Tell me, how do we attract more like it? It is amazing!

… tishamd, 21 August, 2006 - 10:51pm

Plant Asters!

Totally by coincidence to your post, but I had a fresh, gorgeous, green and ruby Hummingbird Clearwing this afternoon on an Aster and got some great photos. But there's a record for Virginia in August so it'd just be piling on.

Seriously, though, native plants that attract pollinators is the best you can do. They are amazing! And there are a heap more neat bugs that will visit, too.

Good luck,

John

… John Fox, 22 August, 2006 - 12:55am

Leaning toward Snowberry Clearwing

Soory I'm still not convinced and I maybe I'm all wet. For starters, the legs are the wrong color - black vs blonde. See:

http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/nh_papers/sphinxmoths/sphinx.html#key

There is a line missing through the discal cell which would make it H. thysbe (see illustration from above web site) but I can't be sure from this photo. Really, all the lines around the discal cell, I think, should be fatter. Is there another photo?

I don't think the jagged edge is a good field mark though it seems many keys use it. I've found a lot of other H. diffinis web photos that show a jagged pattern (possible mis-ID?) including bugguide. Also, the hind wing is much more like H. diffinis (large clear area, narrow dark area of outer margin) and the color and pattern of the body and head still says H. diffinis.

At the end of the day, though, does it matter? It's still a beautiful photo.

… Steve Nanz, 18 January, 2005 - 5:03am

The legs

You are right -- H. thysbe should have white legs. I think this doesn't belong in the H. thysbe page.

… Bobby Grizzard, 19 July, 2008 - 9:32pm

Snowberry Clearwing

In my neck of the woods, NYC, if I see a Clearwing with a big fat black eye line on a yellow head and black running down the middle of the back, I'm thinking Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). Haven't read anywhere that this matters but that's my two cents worth.

… Steve Nanz, 8 August, 2004 - 4:15am

Made me check

I looked at the differences between the clearwings and one other key difference appears to be the definition of the post median line on the forewings where the opaque scales start. In Hemaris thysbe that line is jagged, but in H. gracilis and Erynnyis obscura the line is smooth. Based on that this would be thysbe.

… Troy Bartlett, 8 August, 2004 - 9:03am

Awesome photo!

I really think that's a great picture, John. I can never get close enough to hummingbird moths to take a decent shot.

… Richard Leung, 7 August, 2004 - 3:35pm

This Wysteria was apparently in the prime of its year.

It was covered with insects, many of them Japanese Beetles. I missed a couple good ones because those Cicada Killers are just too scary!

Two Hummingbird Clearwings came in and started feeding, didn't mind me a bit. I started shooting away and was pleased to get a couple good images. The pair of moths is what made me think of gender differences.

Thanks for the kind words,
John

… John Fox, 7 August, 2004 - 7:26pm

Wear to scales, colors lost

I think that is just wear to the scales, or rather, loss of the scales as the insect gets older. Most lepidoptera show that over time.

Nice photo, I like the proboscis partially coiled.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 7 August, 2004 - 7:11am

Thanks, Patrick, I expect you are right

I knew about scale loss as a lep ages, but I never thought about hair loss on the thorax. That seems to be the case here and makes sense to me.

I liked the probiscus, too, and the wings in flight. It was pure luck, of course. My 48 year old eyes just see a big scary thing and my mind says take a picture before you get stung:)

Thanks for the help,
John

… John Fox, 7 August, 2004 - 8:04pm