6 replies to this topic

[BuckeyeBruce]

I saw this today in Central OH, and then discovered the previous post in this forum which leads me to think this is the Hummingbird Moth... ? At first I thought it was an actual (very small) hummingbird, as he maneuvered around just like the bird. Then it started looking like a furry crayfish lol! At any rate, maybe these shots can help clarify some of the differences with the Snowberry, previously mentioned.

[psweet]

Are these all of the same individual? Some of them look like Hummingbird Clearwings and some of them like Snowberry Clearwings.

[BuckeyeBruce]

I was pretty positive they're all the same... unless there was a pair at the same plants, and they did a switcheroo on me that I didn't notice. But I only ever saw one at a time, and all were at the same time and place.

[psweet]

In that case, I'd go with Hummingbird Clearwing.

[BuckeyeBruce]

Thanks!

[Lutya]

I also got one of these, near Albany, NY but don't know if the pics are good enough to tell which kind:

[RyanWarnerPa]

I think the easiest way to determine which species of Hemaris you have is by the color of the underside and legs. Hummingbird Clearwing will be pale/whitish with pink/redish belly, while a Snowberry Clearwing will be mostly black. Based on this one identifying mark I'd say all your photos of are Hummingbird Clearwings.

Sources: Bugguid.net