Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
The snowberry clearwing moth is a member of the hawk moth family. French lepidopterist Jean Baptiste Alphonse Déchauffour de Boisduval first described this species in 1836.
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Scientific Classification
- Family: Sphingidae
- Genus: Hemaris
- Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis
Description and Identification
Caterpillar
The larvae are green with black spots around each spiracle.
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Pupa
Once mature, the caterpillars pupate in cocoons made of leaf litter.
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Adult Moth
Sexual Dimorphism: Present.
Females have a prominent brown margin around their wings.
Color and Appearance
When the wings are opened, they can be clear and have reddish-brown terminal borders. When the wings are closed, a dark scaling can be seen along their veins.
Average wingspan: 3.2 – 5 cm
Flight pattern: Erratic
Season: March-August
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Egg
Females lay eggs close to the soil where the host plants can be found.
Quick Facts
| Distribution | Canada (Northwest Territories, British Columbia, southern Ontario, eastern Manitoba, and in western Quebec) and the United States (southern California, Illinois, Maine, |
| Habitat | Fields, gardens, open habitats, streamsides, and suburbs |
| Lifespan of Adults | Not recorded |
| Host Plants | Cherry, dogbane, dwarf bush honeysuckle, hawthorn, honeysuckle, mint, plum, and snowberry |
| Adult Diet | Nectar from flowers including Canada violet, dwarf bush honeysuckle, lantana, lilac, orange hawkweed, snowberry, and thistles |
Did You Know
- This moth has several nicknames in various parts of the Appalachia, including West Virginia, such as the “hummingbird moth” or “flying lobster”.
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Scientific Classification
- Family: Sphingidae
- Genus: Hemaris
- Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis
