Royal Alberta Museum: Invertebrate Zoology - Bug Facts

[Caterpillars and Other Immature Insects]

Fact Sheets: Commonly Observed and Asked About Insects and Spiders Found in Alberta

Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)

Hummingbird Clearwing resting on white lilacs
Credit: Terry Thormin

INTRODUCTION

This moth is often mistaken for a large bumblebee or even a small hummingbird when it hovers in front of a flower to sip the nectar.

IDENTIFICATION

The Hummingbird Clearwing is a member of the family Sphingidae, the sphinx moths. It can be identified partly by the fact that it is active during the day where most other members of the family are nocturnal or active at night. It is also one of the smaller members of the family with a wing span of 4 to 5.5 cm. The wings are clear in the centre and have a broad brown border.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is found throughout the province of Alberta. It is found throughout Eastern North America west as far as the Great Plains.

TIME OF YEAR

The adults fly from mid-May through July. Larvae first appear in early June and last until late August.

HABITAT AND HABITS

This is a moth of open weedy fields and forest edges. It feeds on flowers such as purple vetch, dandelion and honeysuckle and will occasionally come to backyards if the appropriate flowers are present. It has the ability to hover in front of flowers while it feeds, just like hummingbirds. The larvae feed on the leaves of hawthorns, honeysuckle, cherry and snowberry. It overwinters as a pupa in a cocoon in leaf litter. Most sphinx moths have bare pupae (no cocoon) in the soil.

SIMILAR SPECIES

The Snowberry Clearwing, Hemaris diffinis, is very similar, but is smaller and has a narrower brown border to the wings.

COMMENTS

Most people who see this moth for the first time have a problem trying to figure out just what it is. As stated earlier, it can be confused for a small hummingbird or a large bumblebee. Once people find out it is a moth they generally become quite fascinated by it and remember it! The larvae are seldom serious pests.

For more information on the Hummingbird Clearwing you can visit the University of Alberta’s entomology collection species page.

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Last update: December 10 2004