Hemaris diffinis

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Snowberry clearwing
SnowberryClearwing.jpg
Hemaris diffinis in Augusta, Michigan
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Hemaris
Species:
H. diffinis
Binomial name
Hemaris diffinis
(Boisduval 1836) [1]
Synonyms
  • Macroglossa diffinisBoisduval, 1836
  • Macroglossa aethraStrecker, 1875
  • Macroglossa fumosaStrecker, 1874
  • Sesia axillarisGrote & Robinson, 1868
  • Sesia groteiButler, 1874
  • Hemaris tenuisGrote, 1873
  • Hemaris metathetisButler, 1876
  • Hemaris marginalisGrote, 1873
  • Haemorrhagia ariadneBarnes & McDunnough, 1910

Hemaris diffinis, the snowberry clearwing, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. This moth is sometimes called "hummingbird moth" or "flying lobster". This moth should not be confused with the hummingbird hawk-moth of Europe.

Contents

Adults

It is about 32–51 millimetres (1.25–2 in). The moth's abdomen has yellow and black segments much like those of the bumblebee, for whom it might be mistaken due to its color and flight pattern similarities. The moth's wings lack the large amount of scales found in most other lepidopterans, particularly in the centralized regions, making them appear clear. It loses the scales on its wings early after the pupa stage by its highly active flight tendencies.

Hemaris diffinis is a excellent bumblebee mimic.

Biology

It flies during the daylight much like the other hummingbird moths, but it may also continue flight into the evening, particularly if it has found a good source of nectar.

Distribution

The moth is found from the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, southern Ontario, eastern Manitoba, and in western Quebec in Canada. In the United States this species has been located in southern California and Baja California Norte, Illinois, east through most of the United States from Maine to West Virginia to Florida. Also seen in the Cariboo region of British Columbia.

Food plants

The larvae feed on plants including dogbane (Apocynum), Lonicera , Viburnum , Amsonia , Triosteum , Diervilla , and Symphoricarpos .

Regional names

Hemaris diffinis is notable for its colorful nicknames. In certain parts of Appalachia, including West Virginia, Hemaris diffinis is known as "hummingbird moth" or "flying lobster". These nicknames are derived from its supposed physical resemblance to other (genetically unrelated) animals.

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<i>Eumorpha anchemolus</i> Species of moth

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<i>Hemaris thetis</i> Species of moth

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References

  1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2011.