Hemaris diffinis
"Snowberry Clearwing"
Family: Sphingidae

This moth ranges across all of temperate North America, and can be seen flying between April and September. Its preferred habitat is open fields, gardens, and stream sides; it can also be found in most suburban areas. The adult moth likes to feed on nectar from lantana, honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, and Canadian violets. It uses its long proboscis, which is curled under the head when not feeding, to siphon nectar from the flower’s nectary. Most members of this group are diurnal, or active during the daytime.

The caterpillar feeds on snowberry, honeysuckle, and dogbane. It can be found in the leaf litter under most of these plants. The caterpillar has yellow markings on both the base of the posterior black horn and across the head. There are also nine dark spiracles along each side. It pupates in a black cocoon with a covering of leaves as its only protection. When the moth emerges from the cocoon it has blue-black scales covering the wings. Throughout flight, these scales fall off the wings, leaving them transparent.

The snowberry clearwing is a moth that mimics a bumblebee. The fuzzy yellow and black striped thorax and large eyes on the protruding head make this moth easy to mistake for a bee. It also demonstrates bee-like characteristics in that it makes a buzzing sound as it flits from flower to flower, often hovering in mid-air. With its 1 ¼ - 2 inch wingspan, it also gives the impression of being the size of a bee or wasp. This also makes it one of the smallest sphinx moths.

Tracy Hill
Bree Prack
Insect Biology & Diversity, Fall 2003