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 