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Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Clearwing moth? which one
Location: Chester New Jersey
July 30, 2011 8:56 am
Is this a Clearwing Snowberry or a clearwing Humingbird.
I think it is a Snowberry but Iam not very good at this
thanks
Don Christian
Signature: Don Christian

hummingbird clearwing don 300x206 Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Hummingbird Clearwing

Hi Don,
In our opinion, this is a Hummingbird Clearwing, and we are basing that on the light legs and the coloration of the back of the insect.  The best place to identify Sphinx Moths is the Sphingidae of the Americas website, then go to Sphingidae of the United States, and you can categorize by state, and by going the the New Jersey sightings, you will learn that there are three different species of diurnal Sphinxes in the genus Hemaris that have been reported in New Jersey.  We believe this diurnal sphinx most closely resembles Hemaris thysbe, the Hummingbird Clearwing.

hummingbird clearwing don 2 300x206 Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Hummingbird Clearwing

 

Posted 31 July 2011 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Snowberry Clearwing

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth??
Location: Saxtons River, Vermont
July 31, 2011 7:00 am
Hi Daniel,
The guy was darting around in my vast stands of bee balm yesterday. I searched your site and initially believed it’s a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, but I’m not certain. Is that correct?
Signature: K L Thalin

hemaris kt thalin vermont 300x206 Snowberry Clearwing

Snowberry Clearwing

Hi Daniel,
Karen Thalin here, from Saxtons River, Vermont.
I JUST sent you a (two photo) submission on the web site of what I THINK is a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, taken by me in my gardens yesterday. I was again looking through all my pix after hitting the “send” button, and realized that I had this one, which shows the color very well, even though the image is a bit blurry. This guy seems to be a little different than the HCM photos I’ve looked at on your site. It has bumble bee coloring. I’m not sending THIS email/photo to be published, but only to give you another view of the moth, if that will help with identifying it.
Thanks!
KT

hemaris kt thalin vermont 2 300x205 Snowberry Clearwing

Snowberry Clearwing

Hi Karen,
The best place to identify Sphinx Moths is on The Sphingidae of the Americas website because you can search by individual states.  There are three species of diurnal Sphinx Moths in the genus Hemaris listed for Vermont, and we believe you have photographed the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth, Hemaris diffinis.  The Hummingbird Clearwing is another member of the genus.  The Snowberry Clearwing is described on The Sphingidae of the Americas as being:  “a very variable species, but almost always the abdomen sports contrasting black and yellow hairs, the ventral surface being quite black. The legs also tend to be quite dark and there is a black mask running across the eye and along the sides of the thorax.” 

Thank you, Daniel! It’s funny because after I sent this submission this morning, I saw a true Hummingbird Clearwing Moth in the same stand of bee balm! It was difficult to get a clear short, but this one is clearly very different than the Snowberry. I checked my photo against those on the site you recommended, and it certainly looks to be the HCM. They are found all along the east coast in way up into Canada.
Thanks, again.
Karen

Hi Karen,
We are happy you mentioned the Bee Balm, a species of Monarda, one of the best flowers to plant for both pollinating insects like butterflies and diurnal Sphinx Moths as well as real hummingbirds.

Posted 31 July 2011 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Bug dressed in 70s attire?
Location: Michigan
July 30, 2011 3:46 pm
Hiked the field with my son this morning in search of monarch eggs.. no luck. But did find this beautiful bug on the queens anne lace! His colors remind me of the mod clothes from the 70’s .. bold flowers that fit his environment! Question is? what is his name? Any help you can give is appreciated!
Signature: buggy in michigan

ailanthus webworm michigan 300x202 Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Dear buggy in michigan,
We keep hoping the Ailanthus Webworm Moth will eat all the Ailanthus trees, an invasive exotic species, but alas, the trees persist.

Posted 31 July 2011 § Ermine Moths ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Pandora Sphinx

Whats this monster?
Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
July 29, 2011 4:19 pm
Hey Bugman,
Dropping a line from the great white north in hopes you can help a bunch of us figure out what this giant moth ( I think anyways) is. It appeared 2 days ago on a bay door of our dealership and has only gone from the wall to the ground. Checking in on it regularly I managed to snap a couple photos. It has since moved on to locations unknown departing on what I believe may have been its maiden flight … Looks very interesting and just curious to what it actually was
Thanks a bunch
Signature: Crazy Canuck

pandora sphinx canada 300x261 Pandora Sphinx

Pandora Sphinx

Dear Crazy Canuck,
Because of their manner of flight, Sphinx Moths in the family Sphingidae are frequently mistaken for hummingbirds.  This is a Pandora Sphinx.

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Posted 29 July 2011 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Plume Moth

Mr. T
Location: Black Hawk, CO
July 28, 2011 9:22 pm
Hi!
I discovered this guy on my wall this evening. I’m thinking something in the Diptera order, but am curious as to what it might be! FYI, we live in the mountains of Colorado, at about 9000ft.
Signature: Jackie

plume moth jackie 300x206 Plume Moth

Plume Moth

Hi Jackie,
You were probably confused by what appears to be only two wings.  This is actually Lepidoptera, and it is commonly called a Plume Moth, though our readers frequently submit queries that refer to it as a T-Bug.

Posted 29 July 2011 § Plume Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Spotted Apatelodes

Please help identify this bug
Location: Allenhurst, New Jersey USA
July 28, 2011 5:50 pm
My sister took a picture of this bug on the screen at her work and it has us all baffled as to what it is. It kinda looks lke a dragon and a spider combined. Any help and/or information would be very much appreciated.
Look forward to hearing back from you.
Michelle
Signature: Michelle

spotted apatelodes michelle 300x222 Spotted Apatelodes

Spotted Apatelodes

Hi Michelle,
The silhouette of the Spotted Apatelodes, Apatelodes torrefacta, is very distinctive.  Though it is actually a Silkmoth, it is frequently mistaken for one of the Sphinx Moths.  You can find more information on the Spotted Apatelodes on BugGuide.

1

Posted 29 July 2011 § Giant Silk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Waved Sphinxes in Pennsylvania

Sphinx Moths meet Hello Kitty
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
July 26, 2011 4:32 pm
Dear Bugman,
Late the other night (7/21/2011), here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, I was delighted to find four Sphinx Moths flying around my floodlight. My question is: Are they Manduca sexta (Carolina Sphinx) or Manduca quinquemaculata (Five-spotted Hawkmoth)? I just can’t tell! I sure did enjoy getting up close and personal with them, though–it was hard getting them off of me! I think they like Hello Kitty! Thanks so much for your help!
Signature: Diane Cameron, insect enthusiast

waved sphinxes diane 300x225 Waved Sphinxes in Pennsylvania

Waved Sphinxes

Hi Diane,
Your confusion over the identity of these Sphinx Moths is understandable.  They are actually very pale Waved Sphinxes, Ceratomia undulosa, and they are in the same tribe, Sphingini, as the Carolina Sphinx and the Five Spotted Hawkmoth.  Our favorite way to identify Sphinx Moths is to begin with the Sphingidae of the United States website, and then go to the state listing for Pennsylvania, and then click through the possibilities until we find a match.  That is where we found the Waved Sphinx which is part of the Sphingidae of the Americas website.

Posted 26 July 2011 § Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths ‡ Comments (0) °

Giant Silkmoth from South Africa

Large moth
Location: Hazyview, Mpumalanga, South Africa
July 25, 2011 10:21 am
Found this moth sitting next to the pool in Hazyview (outside Kruger National Park) in South Africa. Hope you guys can help identifying it.
Kind regards, Jan
Signature: Jan

pseudobunaeairius south africa jan 300x206 Giant Silkmoth from South Africa

Pseudobunaea irius

Hi Jan,
We believe we have identified your Giant Silkmoth at Pseudobunaea irius, but we are going to check with Bill Oehlke for verification.  Bill may request the use of your photo on his own website as well.  Here is a photo from Kirby Wolfe’s website that shows the underwings that are not visible in your image.  Your individual is a male, so the points at the apex of the forewings are more hooked.  We posted a similar photo in 2008.

Bill Oehlke confirms identification
Daniel,
Yes,
It is Pseudobunaea irius
Bill Oehlke

1

Posted 25 July 2011 § Giant Silk Moths ‡ Comments (1) °

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