Clearwing Hummingbird Moth

Is It a Hummingbird? No, It's a Moth

One may think there's a tiny little baby hummingbird flying among the flowers, but more than likely it's a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. This moth will feed during the day and it's shape, coloration and scaleless wings give it the appearance of a small hummingbird. There are two common varieties of this attractive and interesting member of the Sphinx moth family. This lens will explore Hummingbird Moths (and a few other Sphinx Moths) as well as some of the big, beautiful Moths, like the Luna Moth. You'll also find a plant list for a "Moon Garden", with descriptions and photos of night blooming and fragrant plants that are sure to please the senses and bring in some beautiful moths and maybe an insect eating bat or two.

Moth Facts

Hummingbird Moth on Pickerel-weed by naturegirl7

Moths are Insects and belong to the Order Lepidoptera, which includes both Moths and Butterflies. There are about 100 families of moths with hundreds of genera (plural of genus) and over 150,000 species. Moths live in all parts of the world, except in the very cold mountaintops and polar regions. Most Moths live in the tropics.

Moths and Butterflies are very much alike, but there are several characteristics that Moths have that Butterflies don't:

Moths usually have less colorful wings.
Moths have furrier bodies.
The antennas of moths are feathery or threadlike.
Most Moths fly at night. One exception to this rule is the Clearwing Hummingbird Moth.

Like Butterflies, Moths go through a metamorphosis where the young change completely before becoming adults.

Sphinx Moth Adult and Larvae Photos

The sphinx family is a large family of moths. Here a a few photos of the larval and adult stages of some of the Sphinx and Hawk moths. Clearwing Hummingbird Moths are a member of the Sphinx family.

Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Snowberry Clearwing

Snowberry Clearwing Moth

Banded Sphinx (Eumorpha fasciata) by Odephoto

Banded Sphinx is a southeastern species

Banded Sphinx Moth

White-lined Sphinx

White-lined Sphinx Mating

White-lined Sphinx

2004.09.01rusticsphinxmoth by sarahsflickr

Rustic Sphinx Moth Hornworm

Rustic Sphinx moth, about 4-5 inches long.

It Doesn't Know It's a Goner... by JasonCross

Tomato hornworm with Wasp Larvae

5-spotted Hawk Moth - Manduca quinquemaculata

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Description and Habits

The two types of North American Hummingbird Moths are very hard to tell apart. One type is the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, which (as you can tell by its name) resembles a small hummingbird. The other is the Snowberry Clearwing Moth which actually looks more like a large bumblebee, than a hummingbird. The ranges of both species overlap quite a bit, so you can have both in a given location. Both species have fast moving, scaleless wings and furry bodies with large abdomens with coloration similar to that of a hummingbird. The scales on the wings are rubbed off in flight soon after it emerges from the pupa. Like other butterflies and moths, its mouth part is a straw-like siphoning, feeding tube called a proboscis. But, unlike most other moths, the Hummingbird Moths fly and feed during daylight hours in open woodlands, fields, gardens and backyards between March and September.

In the north, this moth has at least 2 broods of young and in Louisiana there are six broods every thirty days beginning in March. One pale green egg is deposited on the underside of a leaf and the small larvae stay hidden on the leaf vein. The larvae pupate in thin walled cocoons on the ground under leaf litter.

There are many different types of Sphinx Moths and each one uses specific plants to raise its young. For example, the Rustic Sphinx lays its eggs on only Fringe Trees and Jasmine. The photo below shows a very large Rustic Sphinx caterpillar dining on Fringe Tree leaves.

Sphinx moths get their name because, when the larvae is disturbed, it elevates the front part of its body and assumes a Sphinx-like position. The larvae of many sphinx moths are known as hornworms because of the horn or spike that is attached to the last segment of their body.

The Tomato Hormworm (Five-spotted Hawk Moth) and the Tobacco Hornworm (Carolina Sphinx Moth) are harmful to the crops they are named for. The name "Hawk moth" and Sphinx moth are both used, but hawk moths are actually another group in the family.

The Hummingbird Clearwing Moth - Hemaris thysbe belongs to the order Lepidoptera / Suborder Macrolepidoptera / Superfamily Sphingoidea / Family Sphingidae, common names: hawk moths, hornworms or sphinx moths. Species Hemaris thysbe (Fabricius) also called common clear-wing, hummingbird moth or sphinx colibri

Its range goes as far north as Alaska, east to Maine and Newfoundland and south to Florida and Texas. Adults are reddish-brown and green and have a wingspan of about two inches. The caterpillars eat viburnum, hawthorn, honeysuckle, buckbrush, wild cherry and plum and a few other types of fruit trees.

Adults hover and sip nectar at many different flowers, including honeysuckle, beebalm, phlox, lilac and blueberry and milkweed. One of the sure ways to tell a Hummingbird Moth from a Hummingbird is that the moth will often rest on the flower while it drinks.

The Snowberry Clearwing Moth - Hemaris diffinis is in the order Lepidoptera and family Sphingidae. It is about 1.25 to 2 inches. It actually looks more like a large bumblebee than a hummingbird. The name probably comes from the humming sound its wings make that is similar to that of a hummingbird. Another difference from the Hummingbird Clearwing is that the Snowberry's abdomen has yellow and black segments like a bumblebee. In its larval stage it eats plants such as honeysuckle, viburnum, hawthorn, snowberry, cherry, and plum.

Hummingbird Moth Video

The Clear Wing Humming Bird Moth

Slowed down footage of the Moth

Runtime: 1:49
5912 views
9 Comments:

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Luna Moth

lunablackverticle, LunaonBlackframe by Tealtreasures

Luna Moth Facts

from Wikipedia

The Luna Moth (Actias luna) is a lime-green, Nearctic Saturniid moth in the subfamily Saturniinae.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Io Moth Facts

from Wikipedia

The io moth (Automeris io) is a very colorful North American moth in the Saturniidae family. It ranges from the southeast corner of Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick in Canada, and in the US it is found from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, east of those states and down to the southern end of Florida. Species Detail | Butterflies and Moths of North America

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Io Moth? Maybe Polyphemus

Io Moth by bhbphotos

Polyphemus Moth

Polyphemus Moth 1 by Tealtreasures

Polyphemus Moth Facts

The Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths.Polyphemus Moth It is a tan colored moth, with an average wingspan of 6 inches (15 cm). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eye spots are where it gets its name ? from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The caterpillar of the Polyphemus moth can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months. It is widespread throughout much of North America, from southern Canada to parts of Mexico.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

More Mothy Stuff

Luna Moth Rectangle Magnet

from Science Geek Emporium

Price: 5.99

Luna Moth Tile Coaster

from Maggie Ross Sketchbook

Price: 12.50

Hummingbird Moth Large Poster

from Wizard's Touch Designs

Price: 23.39

Other Beautiful Moth Photos

There are many gorgeous nocturnal moths that inhabit the Southeastern United States. One of our favorites is the lovely Luna Moth and another is the Io Moth.

Luna Moth Caterpillar

luna moth

Spines, Stripes & Appetite by greenkayak73

Io Moth caterpillar, Automeris io

Io Moth, Automeris io

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Mothy Books for Young Naturalists

Silkworms (A Lerner Natur...

Butterflies and Moths (Cr...

A Luna Moth's Life (Natur...

Silkworm Moths (Early Bir...

Night Life of the Yucca:...

Butterfly and Moth Guides for Children

Eyewitness: Butterfly & M...

Peterson First Guide to B...

Peterson First Guide to C...

DK Handbooks: Butterflies...

Butterflies and Moths (Lo...

Make a Moon Garden for the Moths and Bats

Many of us work long hours and the only time that we can enjoy our garden is at night. That is where a moon garden comes into play. Moon gardens feature white flowers and foliage that will glow in the moonlight and also sweet smelling flowers to please our human senses and which will also attract pollinators like colorful moths and other flying insects. The insects that are attracted to the nectar rich flowers may, if you're lucky, attract bats which will eat thousands of mosquitoes each night. Here is a list of some plants that have done well in our Southeastern Louisiana Moon Garden.

Evening Primroses (Oenothera spp.) are native perennials with sweet smelling white, pink and bright yellow flowers that open each evening. Our favorites are the shorter pink, Mexican Evening Primrose and the very tall yellow, Common Evening Primrose.

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is a night-blooming member of the morning glory family that perfumes the garden with five- to six-inch white flowers.

Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens) is a tropical woody plant that produces fragrant, 8-10 inch white, pink or yellow flowers that appear from late spring until frost. This plant is poisonous and hallucinogenic so care should be taken with small children and adventuresome teens.

Phlox (phlox divaricata) is a native that has clusters of lovely fragrant flowers in white and shades of pink and blue.

Orange, Satsuma and Kumquat Blossoms (Citrus spp.) - Citrus trees have extremely fragrant blossoms day and night and they attract many insects. Another plus is that you will have wonderful fruit to eat and you may also attract some Giant Swallowtail Butterflies to your garden.

Common Stock (Matthiola incana) has small pink or purple clusters of attractive, sweet flowers flowers that give out a lovely night time fragrance.

Four O'Clock (Mirabilis jalapa) is an old-fashioned, sweetly fragrant perennial (here in the south) with colorful trumpet-shaped flowers that open in late afternoon. In the old days they were a favorite plant to put around the privy.

Night Blooming Cereus (Selenicereus ) is a succulent with large, fragrant, night-blooming white flowers. It is not hardy below 55°F, so we grow it in a container and bring it indoors or in the greenhouse for the winter.

Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) usually bloom during the day, but some that bloom at night include 'Moon Frolic' and 'Toltec Sundial'.

Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) is a native that bears clusters of waxy white flowers that are open both day and night.

Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) is an annual with clusters of trumpet-like blooms prized for their inviting fragrance. They come in many colors, but the lighter colors are better for a moon garden. Watch out for the Carolina Sphinx Moth (Tobacco Hornworm) larvae.

White Butterfly Ginger (Hedychium coronarium) or Peach Ginger (Hedychium hybrid) are both delightfully fragrant. Butterfly Ginger has white flowers and Peach Ginger is light pinkish-orange. As the photo shows, moths will visit these flowers.

Plantain Lily (Hosta spp.) is a perennial with beautiful foliage and trumpet-shaped clusters of flowers that have a sweet scent.

Pinks (Dianthus plumarius) are perennials with pale pink flowers smelling of cloves. Other members of the Dianthus family would also go well in a Moon Garden.

Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) is a fast growing shrub that can reach 10 feet tall and several feet wide. In spring, it is covered with fragrant, single, white, flowers that smell like orange blossoms.

Moon Garden Photos

Until I can find all of my photos of our moon garden flowers, here are some photos from Flicker of most of the flowers listed. Just click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.