Hemaris diffinis

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Snowberry Clearwing

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Bombycoidea
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Hemaris
Species:	H. diffinis

Binomial name

Hemaris diffinis

The Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is a moth of the order Lepidoptera, family Sphingidae. It is about 1.25”- 2”. The moth's abdomen has yellow and black segments much like those of the bumblebee, whom it might be mistaken for due to its color and flight pattern similarities. The moth's wings lack the large amount of scales found in most other lepidopterans, particularly in the centralized regions, making them appear clear. It loses the scales on its wings early after the pupa stage by its highly active flight tendencies. It flies during the daylight much like the other hummingbird moths, but it may also continue flight into the evening, particularly if it has found a good source of nectar. The larvae feed on plants including honeysuckle, viburnum, hawthorn, snowberry, cherry, and plum. The moth’s migration in Canada is different than in the U.S. In Canada, it flies from the Northwest Territories, south to British Columbia, and then east to Nova Scotia. In the U.S., it flies from Maine to Florida, westward to southern California and Baja California and then into Mexico.