Hummingbird Moth: See This Incredible Clearwing Moth Up Close As It Flits from Bloom to Bloom
See the Incredible Clearwing Hummingbird MothHummingbird Moth: See This Incredible Clearwing Moth Up Close As It Flits from Bloom to Bloom | By Sherry Trautman | Traveling Michigan
I was absolutely delighted to see this incredible Clearwing Hummingbird Moth! This lovely creature was flitting around my petunias in mid-Michigan.
Hemaris thysbe (Fabricius, 1775)
How to Identify the Snowberry Clearwing vs Hummingbird Clearwing
I had to research to determine if my moth was a Snowberry Clearwing or a Hummingbird Clearing.
Per the Mass Audubon, the hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) is the most commonly seen. It has an olive back, a red-brown abdomen, and pale legs.
The snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is yellow and black and has jet black legs. There is also a rather thick black line running through its eyes and down the sides of the body.
Since my creature had white legs and the absence of the black band through its eyes, I determined it is a Hummingbird Clearwing. Pretty exciting, huh!
Do Hummingbird Moths Bite or Sting?
They do not bite or sting so they are safe to have in your gardens or to photograph. The adult moths are beneficial insects as they are excellent pollinators.
So feel free to plant colorful blooms in your garden to attract hummingbirds and clearwing hummingbird moths!
Is it Rare to See a Clearwing Hummingbird Moth?
As I had never seen one before, I was delighted to discover they are a rare sight indeed! Hummingbird Moths range throughout North America so keep your eyes peeled!
Unlike most moths, Hummingbird Moths fly during the day.
What do Hummingbird Moths Eat?
Hummingbird moths love to feed on the nectar of flowers. They went crazy over my pink petunias!
When they hover over the flowers, their body is stationary and their little transparent wings beat so quickly they are almost invisible! Their long proboscis extends beaklike into each colorful blossom.
Do hummingbird moths like butterfly bushes?
Absolutely! They love any flowers that hummingbirds enjoy, such as the colorful Petunias in my video. They are also known to like Catmint, Honeysuckle, Morning Glory and Buddleia (butterfly bushes.)
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