During a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I was delighted to spot a clearwing moth flying about in the milkweed. I initially assumed that it was a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe), the most common clearwing moth in our area. When I looked more closely, however, I realized that it was a Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis).
Although these two species are similar in appearance, there are some noticeable differences. The first photo is one I took on Friday of a Snowberry Clearwing and the second photo from earlier in August is of a Hummingbird Clearwing. Snowberry Clearwing Moths have black legs, while those of a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth are paler in coloration. Snowberry Clearwings also have a black stripe on the thorax that runs up to the eye that is lacking on the Hummingbird Clearwings.
I suspect that there are some other differences too, but I am simply thrilled to know that we have both species present in our area. Most people seem to think that moths are dull and uninteresting, compared with butterflies, but these two species clearly show that moths have their own distinctive beauty and behavior, if you slow down enough to notice them.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Cool duo!
Thanks. It is so cool to have an insect that acts a lot like a bird. 🙂
Really appreciate the side-by-side comparison, very helpful! (and great photos, too!).
Thanks, Sam. Usually I include only my recent photos in my posts, but in this case figured it would be helpful to include an older one for the sake of comparison.
This is an enormous thrill, Mike, to see your clearwing moths. I can never get enough of them. They’re easy to miss because they seem like hummingbirds. How wonderful that you have spotted and photographed two species. Exquisite.
Thanks, Jet, for your kind comments. I love trying to photograph this hummingbird-like moths, which, unfortunately, I don’t see very often. I personally am a little jealous of the variety of hummingbirds that you have on the West Coast. Here we have only Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and an occasional Rufous Hummingbird or other one-off visitors.
They are gorgeous moths and flowers.. both! These photos feel infused with a spirit of joy, because I find them so uplifting! Thanks, Mike.
Thanks so much, Liz. The summer heat and humidity has been a bit wearisome, but capturing images like these really does uplift my spirits–I am glad that they have the same effect on you.
A favorite species! Very nice descripton of the differences. Thank you.
Thanks, Wally. Initially I was only going to include the first, more recent, photo, but decided that a sort of side-by-side comparison would make it easier for viewers to see the differences that I was trying to point out.
I’m familiar with the Hummingbird Clearwing, not with the Snowberry. Now I’m wanting to check my photos to make sure I have the right ID’s 😬
From what I’ve read on the internet, the main difference is the leg color: snowberry clearwings have black legs, while hummingbird clearwings have pale or yellowish-white legs. Additionally, snowberry clearwings are typically yellow and black with a black line through the eyes, whereas hummingbird clearwings have an olive back and a reddish-brown abdomen. In Northern Virginia, we have both species.