# Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth (*Hemaris fuciformis*) The Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth is a special insect that looks like a bee but is actually a moth! It has beautiful yellow and brown stripes and loves to sip nectar from flowers. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Gardens and meadows - **Also known as:** Bee Moth ![Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hemaris_fuciformis_-_MHNT_CUT_2010_0_510_-_Dordogne_France_-_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hemaris_fuciformis_-_MHNT_CUT_2010_0_510_-_Dordogne_France_-_female.jpg) ## Appearance The Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth has a fuzzy, olive-green body with a reddish-brown tip on its abdomen. Its clear wings are bordered by a broad band of reddish-brown, making it visually distinct from a stinging bee or typical moth. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Sphingidae - **Genus:** Hemaris ## Interesting facts - It hums loudly as it flies, sounding exactly like a busy bee! - Its wings start scaled, but they shed them to become clear, just like magic! - The caterpillar has a cool 'horn' on its tail, but it's totally harmless! - This moth can fly backwards and sideways, showing amazing agility in the air! ## Special abilities - **Master Mimicry:** Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth has a fuzzy, bee-like body that tricks predators into thinking it's a stinging bee for protection. - **Helicopter Hover:** Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth can hover precisely in mid-air because of its rapid wing beats, helping it sip nectar from flowers. - **Nectar Straw:** Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth has a long, coiled proboscis that helps it reach deep inside flowers to drink sugary nectar. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 38-48 mm - **Size:** 32-38 mm - **Lifespan:** 21-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 40 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big and strong. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat leaves of honeysuckle and viburnum; adults drink nectar from various flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Honeysuckle nectar, Viburnum nectar, Knapweed nectar, Bugle nectar, Honeysuckle leaves (larvae), Viburnum leaves (larvae) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honeysuckle) (*Lonicera periclymenum*) — Feeds on nectar, helping the plant reproduce. - **Pollinates:** [Guelder-rose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/guelder-rose) (*Viburnum opulus*) — Transfers pollen while collecting flower nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Blue Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-blue-tit) (*Cyanistes caeruleus*) — Caterpillars are a food source for hungry birds. - **Symbiotic with:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Shares nectar sources and helps pollinate flowers. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These moths are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth's wingspan? 38-48 mm ### How big is Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth? 32-38 mm ### How long does Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth live? 21-28 days ### How fast can Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth fly? 40 km/h ### What does Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth eat? Adults drink flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big and strong. ### Where is Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth usually found? Gardens and meadows ### How does Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-bordered-bee-hawkmoth)