Hemaris thysbe

Fabricius, 1775

Hummingbird Clearwing, Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hummingbird Sphinx Moth, Common Clearwing

Hemaris thysbe is a hawkmoth known for its hummingbird-like and transparent wings. hover at flowers to feed on nectar using an exceptionally long . The exhibits significant color variation across its range, with northern and western typically showing smooth wing borders and lighter coloration, while southern and eastern populations tend toward darker colors with jagged wing borders. It is a migratory species with one per year in northern regions and two in the south.

Hemaris thysbe by Original uploader was Lonniehuffman at en.wikipedia. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Hemaris thysbe 2 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Hemaris thysbe 9zz by Photo by David J. Stang. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hemaris thysbe: //hɛˈmɛərɪs ˈθɪzbi//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from Hemaris gracilis and Hemaris diffinis by pale legs (reddish in H. gracilis, black in H. diffinis) and lack of dark striping on . H. thysbe also lacks the hearing organs () present in most other . Geographic variation in wing border shape provides additional clues: smooth borders in northern and western , jagged borders in southern and eastern populations.

Images

Habitat

Second-growth forest, meadows, and suburban gardens. Frequently associated with flowering plants in open or edge . Larval plants include woody shrubs and trees.

Distribution

North America, from Alaska and Yukon Territory south to Florida and west to Oregon, Texas, and the Great Plains. Most abundant in eastern United States and southern Ontario. Migratory, capable of long-distance movement.

Seasonality

active from late spring through summer in single- regions; March–June and August–October in two-brood southern regions. Most active during hottest parts of day, remaining active until sunset. Peak activity coincides with flowering periods of nectar sources.

Diet

feed on nectar from diverse flowers including honeysuckle, snowberry, lilac, phlox, balm, trumpet vine, vetch, bush, and thistles; shows preference for pink and purple flowers. Larvae feed on leaves of honeysuckle, dogbane, hawthorn, cherry, European cranberry bush, snowberry, and other woody plants.

Host Associations

Lonicera - larval food planthoneysuckle
Apocynum - larval food plantdogbane
Crataegus - larval food planthawthorn
Prunus - larval food plantcherry
Viburnum opulus - larval food plantEuropean cranberry bush
Symphoricarpos - larval food plantsnowberry
Platanthera lacera - primary of green fringed orchid

Life Cycle

Complete . laid singly on undersides of leaves, hatch in approximately one week. Larval development takes four weeks. Caterpillar spins cocoon at ground level and pupates in soil. Overwinters as pupa. Emerges in late spring. Two per year in southern range, one in north.

Behavior

Rapid wing beating enables sustained hovering while feeding— that closely mimics hummingbirds. Moves rapidly between flowers. are , most active during midday heat. Mating behavior poorly studied. Adults do not produce sounds for defense or communication due to absence of tympanal organs.

Ecological Role

Primary for some orchid including Platanthera lacera. Contributes to pollination of diverse flowering plants. Serves as prey for birds, bats, and other . Larvae function as herbivores on woody shrubs.

Human Relevance

Minimal economic impact; neither significant crop nor pest. Frequently mistaken for hummingbirds or bumblebees due to appearance and , causing public curiosity and occasional alarm. Sometimes attracted to gardens with appropriate nectar sources. Occasionally referenced in conservation discussions regarding prairie management and pollinator preservation.

Similar Taxa

Hemaris diffinisOverlapping range and similar clearwing ; distinguished by black legs and presence of dark thoracic stripes
Hemaris gracilisSimilar appearance; distinguished by reddish legs, more restricted range in eastern North America, and larval specialization on blueberries
Hyles lineataAlso called 'hummingbird moth' but larger (wingspan 6.3–9 cm), with fully scaled wings showing distinct white lines, not transparent
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)Behavioral and color mimicry; bees have two pairs of wings (often linked), branched body hairs, and do not hover as persistently
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)Convergent hovering and size; bird has feathers, beak rather than , and typically perches between feeding bouts

Misconceptions

Often mistakenly described as multiple distinct due to color variation; consolidated as single species by Ronald Hodges in 1971 based on reproductive . Name 'hummingbird moth' sometimes applied to unrelated sphinx moths (e.g., Hyles lineata), causing confusion. Despite mimicry of hummingbirds, evidence suggests actual mimicry target is bumblebees ( of unpalatable model).

More Details

Taxonomic History

First described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775 as Sesia thysbe. Specific epithet references Thisbe from Ovid's , associating the blood-stained scarf with the 's reddish-brown coloration. Multiple forms described as separate in 1800s; synonymized by Hodges (1971) after dissection revealed no reproductive differences across color variants.

Sensory Biology

Unusual among Lepidoptera in lacking tympanal organs (hearing structures); adaptive significance unknown. Possesses large and well-developed reproductive organs.

Morphological Variation

Coloration varies clinally: southern and later-season darker; northern and western with smooth wing borders, southern and eastern with jagged borders. Variation historically caused taxonomic confusion.

Conservation Status

Not listed as threatened or endangered. presumably stable though dependent on availability of larval plants and nectar sources. Fire management in prairies may affect local abundance through impacts on floral resources.