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Description
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), at the Thomas Winget Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is a moth of the order Lepidoptera, family Sphingidae. 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 is found from the Northwest Territories and British Columbia south to southern California and Baja California Norte, east through most of the United States to Maine and Florida.

Diffinis can always be distinguished from gracilis and thysbe by two characteristics:
1) the black band that crosses the eye and travels down the lateral side of the thorax;
2) diffinis always has black legs.

Life history: Adults fly swiftly during the day. Caterpillars pupate in cocoons spun in leaf litter on the ground.

Flight: Two broods from March-August.

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2 - 5 cm).

More info: [link] , [link]

Description
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), at the Thomas Winget Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is a moth of the order Lepidoptera, family Sphingidae. 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 is found from the Northwest Territories and British Columbia south to southern California and Baja California Norte, east through most of the United States to Maine and Florida.

Diffinis can always be distinguished from gracilis and thysbe by two characteristics:
1) the black band that crosses the eye and travels down the lateral side of the thorax;
2) diffinis always has black legs.

Life history: Adults fly swiftly during the day. Caterpillars pupate in cocoons spun in leaf litter on the ground.

Flight: Two broods from March-August.

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2 - 5 cm).

More info: [link] , [link]