whazzit?
Location: Virginia
September 9, 2011 7:07 pm
We have not been able to identify this flying insect. It was on our butterfly bush, along with some bumblebees. The season is late summer and we live in Virginia, on the east coast, near the Chesapeake Bay.
The proboscis and the ”furry feet” are most intriguing!
The wings move so quickly that it was difficult to focus. Thank goodness, we don’t know if it is a stinging bug.
Thanks for any information.
Signature: Sallye & Robert
Hi Sallye & Robert,
There are three species of diurnal Sphinx Moths in the genus Hemaris that are found in Virginia, and we believe you have photographed the Bumblebee Moth or Snowberry Clearwing Moth, Hemaris diffinis, based on this description from the Sphingidae of the Americas website: “Hemaris diffinis is 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.”