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A hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe). Photo by
Bruce Marlin, www.cirrusimage.com.
The hummingbird moth is, in fact, not a hummingbird at all! If you notice antennae on the "bird," it is most likely a hummingbird clearwing moth, Hemaris thysbe. These moths are often confused with hummingbirds because of their coloration and movement patterns. Unlike most moths, these moths are seen during the day hovering at flowers sipping nectar and flitting between flowers.
Hummingbird clearwing moths are members of the sphinx moth, or Sphingidae, family. They grow up to two inches long, and have an olive-green body with red bands across the abdomen. Each wing is transparent with a reddish brown border. Tufts of hair at the end of the abdomen can be mistaken for feathers. Hummingbird clearwing moths live in open and second-growth habitats, gardens, and suburbs, and can be found in Alaska and the Northwest Territories south through British Columbia to Oregon, east through the Great Plains and Great Lakes area to Maine and Newfoundland, and south to Florida and Texas. Adults feed on nectar from many different flowers including Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), red clover (Trifolium pretense), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), and thistles (Family: Asteraceae). References:
Hummingbird clearwing: (Hemaris thysbe) Butterflies and Moths of North America
Hummingbird Moth: Hemaris thysbe (Fairfax County Public Schools)
Sphinx Moths (Iowa State University University Extension)
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