Insect - Unknow Flying Moth or Butterfly or Something
Jul 9, 2018 15:34:22 #
This was my "catch of the day" and I don't have a clue as to what it is. It's marked like a bumble bee and as big as one yet its head and mouth resemble a butterfly however its wings are clear. It would never land and it would hover going from blossom to blossom. As you can tell, I shot these while it was moving so they are not as sharp as a still insect would be. If you can help ID this critter, please let me know what you believe it to be. Thanks to those who view and all comments are welcome.
Jul 9, 2018 15:40:29 #
Jul 9, 2018 15:44:00 #
Holy-Cow..! That's exactly what it is. I would have never guessed and I thought it looked like a bumblebee yet it looked like a moth too. In all my years I've never seen one before let alone find one with camera in hand. Thanks for the help.
Jul 9, 2018 19:04:44 #
Jul 9, 2018 20:16:38 #
To attract more of these and other necter feeders, plant Buddleia. One of the best for attracting insects. Visit trumpet Vine and moonflowers at night for more moths in the family Sphingidae, as this moth, Hemaris thysbe,is. Bill
Jul 10, 2018 08:21:43 #
Jul 10, 2018 08:33:29 #
One of the few daytime flying moths....I also know them as hummingbird moths... 
Jul 10, 2018 12:49:46 #
Thanks for the planting advice and I'm all-in for next spring. I'm finding exploring for insects and getting to take pictures of them in their habitat to be highly addictive in a good way of course. I've learned how to walk among them and not to have them feel threatened by me or for me to feel threatened by them which I never thought would have thought possible with wasps, hornets and bees of all sorts.
Jul 10, 2018 13:26:43 #
drharveys wrote:
Also known as hummingbird moth..
Agreed. Also known as a clearwing moth or a hawk moth. Macroglossum stellatarum.
Jul 10, 2018 15:27:38 #
Jul 10, 2018 16:24:39 #
DWU2 wrote:
Agreed. Also known as a clearwing moth or a hawk moth. Macroglossum stellatarum.
Sir. My reference is Ronald Hodges, 1971. May I ask the reference you used to come to your conclusion. Thank you. Bill
Jul 10, 2018 16:46:05 #
General information. You may know this, many don't. Most Sphinx moth caterpillars have a horned tail. Most pupate in a loose cell below ground. The common ones like white lined sphinx, and the tobacco and tomato hornworm are nocturnal. The "eggs" that you may see on these are a parasitic wasp. The caterpillar is doomed. The ones that mimic bees are mostly day flying, thus the need for mimicry. It does not work with preying mantis. The proboscis on some of our larger ones may be 100+- mm long(4") . They like morning Glory, trumpet Vine, moon flower,and love budlea. Early evening and morn for the nocturnal ones. Bill
Jul 10, 2018 16:56:18 #
newtoyou wrote:
Sir. My reference is Ronald Hodges, 1971. May I ask the reference you used to come to your conclusion. Thank you. Bill
I think we are in agreement. Here's mine: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hummingbird_moth.shtml. However, I misstated the scientific name - should have been Hemaris diffinis.
Jul 10, 2018 17:06:12 #
DWU2 wrote:
I think we are in agreement. Here's mine: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hummingbird_moth.shtml. However, I misstated the scientific name - should have been Hemaris diffinis.
Thank you. There are three Hemaris in US(I believe) and they are difficult. Dr. Hodges book was "the"book on the subject at the time. Bill
Jul 10, 2018 17:12:43 #
DWU2 wrote:
I think we are in agreement. Here's mine: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hummingbird_moth.shtml. However, I misstated the scientific name - should have been Hemaris diffinis.
Almost forgot. I said thysbe because of the yellow"tail"on difinis, lacking on thysbe.
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