Species Hemaris thysbe - Hummingbird Clearwing - Hodges#7853

7853

Author of species is Fabricius, 1775, as Sesia thysbe. At one time the species was described under Haemorrhagia Grote (1).

Pyramus (πυραμο&sigmaf); and Thisbe (θισβη) were lovers who died tragically--Pyramus found Thisbe's blood-stained scarf, assumed she had been killed, and committed suicide with his sword. It seems likely the reference to the story of Thisbe is a reference to the rusty, somewhat blood-like coloration of this moth. Certainly the application of the genus Haemorrhagia is a reference to blood-like coloration. In support of this idea, Fabricius described a butterfly as Papilio pyramus in 1781, though this is no longer a valid name. This species, in the Nymphalidae, is now apparently Haematera pyrame. An image found on the Internet shows that it has a prominent reddish-orange patch on the upperside of both wings.

Wingspan 40-55 mm

Adult: forewing clear area has partial crossband of dark scales near base, and distal margin of clear area is uneven or ragged-edged (not smooth-edged); legs pale/whitish (vs. reddish in gracilis and black in diffinis). Underside mostly white in front, extending to front legs, then reddish behind, unlike mostly black underside of H. diffinis.

Alaska through central and eastern North America

Open areas with shrubs, young trees, gardens. Adults feed actively on flower nectar during the day while hovering at blossoms.

Adults fly from April to August (one flight) northward; March-June and August-October (two flights) in the south.

Larvae feed on hawthorn, honeysuckle, snowberry, viburnum.

Adults take nectar from deep-throated flowers.

Two generations per year in the south; one in the north.

Egg; early instar larva; later instar larva; newly eclosed adult with opaque wings; adult

Beautiful, but moves so quickly it can be hard to appreciate.

Slender Clearwing (Hemaris gracilis) forewing clear area distal margin is even or smooth-edged (not ragged-edged), and legs are reddish (not pale/whitish)

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) forewing clear area lacks partial crossband of dark scales near base, and legs are black

Holland, p. 62 (1)

Covell, p. 40, plate 6 #16 (2)

Himmelman, plate C-4, photo of adult (3)

Wagner, p. 268 (4)

Moth Photographers Group - species page with photos of living and pinned adults.

Butterflies and Moths of North America

Maryland Moths

Provincial Museum of Alberta

Sphingidae of the Americas--shows life cyle

Systema entomologiae, p.548    Fabricius' original description of the species (in Latin)

Sphingidae.US - Hemaris thysbe