Hummingbird Clearwing
Common NameHummingbird Clearwing
Scientific NameHemaris thysbe
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Wing Patterntransparent
Primary Colorsgreen, yellow, reddish-brown, dark red
HabitatOpen woodlands, gardens, meadows, forest edges
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Alaska and British Columbia south to Florida and Texas
Host Plantshoneysuckle, hawthorn, viburnum, snowberry, dogbane, cherry
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylehovering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are green with a horn at the rear, pupating in a cocoon in leaf litter or shallow soil.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its clear wings, fuzzy body coloration (green head/thorax, yellow/reddish-brown abdomen with a dark band), and its characteristic hummingbird-like hovering flight.
Description
This moth has a fuzzy, olive-green head and thorax, a yellow abdomen with a prominent dark reddish-brown band, and transparent wings bordered in reddish-brown.
