Slender Clearwing
Common NameSlender Clearwing
Scientific NameHemaris gracilis
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Wing Patterntransparent
Primary Colorsolive green, reddish-brown, transparent
HabitatPine barrens, sandy woodlands, bogs, heathlands
Geographic RangeEastern North America (from Nova Scotia south to Florida, west to Michigan and Mississippi)
Host Plantsblueberry, huckleberry
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants. Larvae are green with pale stripes and a caudal horn, feeding on leaves before pupating in a cocoon in leaf litter or shallow soil.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its slender body, extensive clear wing areas, and the combination of olive-green thorax and reddish-brown abdomen and wing borders. It lacks the distinct dark abdominal band found in some other clearwing species.
Description
A medium-sized clearwing moth with an olive-green furry thorax, a reddish-brown abdomen, and mostly transparent wings bordered in reddish-brown.
