Hemaris diffinis
{{Short description|Species of moth}}
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{{Speciesbox
| name = Snowberry clearwing
| image = SnowberryClearwing.jpg
| image_caption = Hemaris diffinis in Augusta, Michigan
| status =
| status_system =
| genus = Hemaris
| species = diffinis
| authority = (Boisduval 1836){{cite web|url=http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Hemaris/diffinis.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110034819/http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Hemaris/diffinis.html|archive-date=2012-11-10|url-status=dead|title=CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae |publisher=Cate-sphingidae.org |access-date=2011-10-19}}
| synonyms =
- Macroglossa diffinis Boisduval, 1836
- Macroglossa aethra Strecker, 1875
- Macroglossa fumosa Strecker, 1874
- Sesia axillaris Grote & Robinson, 1868
- Sesia grotei Butler, 1874
- Hemaris tenuis Grote, 1873
- Hemaris metathetis Butler, 1876
- Hemaris marginalis Grote, 1873
- Haemorrhagia ariadne Barnes & McDunnough, 1910
}}
Hemaris diffinis, the snowberry clearwing, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. This moth is sometimes called "hummingbird moth" or "flying lobster". This moth should not be confused with the hummingbird hawk-moth of Europe.
Adults
It is about {{convert|1.25|-|2|in|disp=flip}}. The moth's abdomen has yellow and black segments much like those of the bumblebee, for whom it might be mistaken 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.
Hemaris diffinis MHNT CUT 2010 0 393, Morgan territory, Contra Costa Co, California, male dorsal.jpg|Male dorsal
Hemaris diffinis MHNT CUT 2010 0 393, Morgan territory, Contra Costa Co, California, male ventral.jpg|Male ventral
Hemaris diffinis MHNT CUT 2010 0 393, Morgan territory, Contra Costa Co, California, female dorsal.jpg|Female dorsal
Hemaris diffinis MHNT CUT 2010 0 393, Morgan territory, Contra Costa Co, California, female ventral.jpg|Female ventral
Biology
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.
Distribution
The moth is found from the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, southern Ontario, eastern Manitoba, and in western Quebec in Canada. In the United States this species has been located in southern California and Baja California Norte, Illinois, east through most of the United States from Maine to West Virginia to Florida. Also seen in the Cariboo region of British Columbia.
Food plants
The larvae feed on plants including dogbane (Apocynum), Lonicera, Viburnum, Amsonia, Triosteum, Diervilla,{{cite journal |last1=Schoen |first1=Daniel J. |title=Floral Biology of Diervilla lonicera (Caprifoliaceae) |journal=Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club |date=1977 |volume=104 |issue=3 |pages=234–240 |doi=10.2307/2484303 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2484303 |issn=0040-9618|url-access=subscription }} and Symphoricarpos.
Regional names
Hemaris diffinis is notable for its colorful nicknames. In certain parts of Appalachia, including West Virginia, Hemaris diffinis is known as "hummingbird moth" or "flying lobster". These nicknames are derived from its supposed physical resemblance to other (genetically unrelated) animals.
Gallery
File:Hemaris diffinis variation sjh.JPG|Hemaris diffinis variation
File:Hemaris diffinis.JPG|Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
File:Snowberry Moth2.jpg|Snowberry moth in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
File:Snowberry clearwing moth (Photo 1 of 5), Springfield TN.JPG|Hemaris diffinis on cosmos
File:Hemaris diffinis 1.jpg|Hemaris diffinis nectaring on Abelia
File:Hemaris diffinis larva.jpg|Caterpillar
File:Snowberry Clearwing -2 - 08.05.22.jpg|Feeding at Buddleja flower
References
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External links
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- [http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/hdiffinis.htm Silkmoths]
- [http://bugguide.net/node/view/2639 Hemaris diffinis], Bug Guide
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130628082133/http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Hemaris-diffinis Butterflies and Moths of North America]
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Category:Moths of North America
Category:Moths described in 1836
Category:Taxa named by Jean Baptiste Boisduval
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